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World:

¶ “BP Is Getting Out Of Petrochemicals With $5 Billion Sale” • BP has agreed to sell its petrochemicals business to Ineos for $5 billion. The UK oil company is selling assets worth $15 billion as it reels from the oil price crash and pivots toward renewable energy. It has already sold its business in Alaska and offloaded legacy gas assets elsewhere in the US. [CNN]

Nodding donkey

¶ “The South Pole Has Been Warming At Three Times The Global Average Over The Past 30 Years, Study Says” • The South Pole has been warming at over three times the global average in the past 30 years, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. That could have huge implications for the region and beyond. [CNN]

¶ “XPeng Expands Its EV Lineup With New P7” • The new XPeng P7 may be the closest thing yet to a true competitor to Tesla in the Chinese market. It has a range of 441 miles, more range than any other Chinese car, a low starting price, luxurious interior, and Level 3 autonomous driving all rolled into an attractive EV that is pleasing to the eye. [CleanTechnica]

XPeng P7 (Courtesy of XPeng)

¶ “Europe Is Drowning In SUV Emissions” • We regularly see news about rapidly increasing EV sales in Europe. But there is another side to the matter, which is that vehicle emissions in Europe are not falling; instead, they are rising. The mania for SUVs that has infected the brains of car buyers around the globe is largely to blame. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Volvo Factory In China Runs On 100% Renewable Energy” • Volvo Cars continues its march towards being carbon-neutral by 2025. It announced that its vehicle assembly plant in Chengdu, China would make the switch to 100% renewable energy. Their new energy supply contract will rely heavily on hydroelectric and solar power. [CleanTechnica]

Volvo factory in Chengdu (Image courtesy Volvo Cars)

¶ “BMW To Source Battery Cells Produced Using Renewable Energy” • German carmaker BMW said its electric cars will use battery cells produced using renewable energy, a step which will compel the biggest suppliers to source more non-coal generated electricity. Last year, BMW ordered more than €10 billion ($11.07 billion) worth of battery cells. [KDAL News]

¶ “Big Melbourne Corporates Sign Up To Renewable Future” • Some of Melbourne’s biggest universities and businesses will source their power from regional wind farms, as part of a multi-million dollar city council renewable energy deal. Starting from next month, Tango Energy will provide 110 GWh of renewable electricity per year. [Pro Bono Australia]

Wind turbine

¶ “Clean Power Companies ‘Failing On Human Rights'” • The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s inaugural review of the renewable energy sector claims that none of the world’s 16 largest public wind and solar companies currently fully meets their responsibility to respect human rights as defined by UN Guiding Principles. [reNEWS]

¶ “Vestas Blows Strong In Japan With 76-MW Order” • Vestas secured a 76-MW turbine order for two wind farms in Japan’s Aomori prefecture. The wind farms are being developed jointly by Tokyu Land Corporation and Japan Wind Development. Turbines deliveries will begin in Q1 of 2021, with commissioning is scheduled for Q4 of 2021. [reNEWS]

Vestas wind turbine (Vestas image)

¶ “France Completes Shutdown Of Oldest Nuclear Plant At Fessenheim” • The closure of France’s oldest nuclear plant was mourned by electricity workers and celebrated by anti-nuclear campaigners. The second of two reactors at Fessenheim was powered down and taken offline overnight. The first reactor was shut down in February. [Euronews]

US:

¶ “Illinois Community Solar Lands Northwestern University As New Customer” • The Illinois Community Solar program from Clearway Community Solar now has Northwestern University as its first major commercial subscriber. The university’s 11.9-MW subscription supports development of 16 Clearway Community Solar projects. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Image courtesy Clearway Community Solar)

¶ “Virginia School District Going Solar In A Big Way” • In Virginia, the school district for Orange County Public Schools contracted Secure Futures Solar to put solar panels on eight of the school district’s facilities. They combine for a capacity of 2.5 MW. The PV projects will produce about 50% of the eight facilities’ electricity needs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Kentucky Whiskey Distillery To Be Powered By 100% Renewable Electricity By 2030” • Global beverage maker Diageo announced that its new Kentucky whiskey distillery is expected to be carbon neutral. The Bulleit distilling site will be powered by 100% renewable electricity to produce up to 10 million proof gallons per year. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Bulleit whiskey distillery

¶ “Bank Of America And Duke Energy Enter PPA For 25 MW Of Solar Power” • BOA announced that it is partnering with Duke Energy to expand its renewable energy commitment by using solar energy to power operations in Charlotte, North Carolina. The purchase of 25-MW of solar energy will cover 45% of BOA’s electricity load in the state. [Saurenergy]

¶ “Chesapeake Sues FERC Over Pipeline Contracts” • Chesapeake Energy sued the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to keep two pipeline companies from interfering with its Chapter 11 reorganization. Chesapeake Energy is seeking to reject certain negotiated contracts, and it wants the federal bankruptcy court, not FERC, to decide the issue. [Kallanish Energy]

Have a breathtakingly gorgeous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Maine Woods Would Benefit From Power Line Project” • Ensuring a healthy future for the Maine Woods – its plants and trees, animals and fish, jobs and industries – requires us to recognize its biggest threat: climate change. To reduce the devastating effects of climate change, we must take some big steps. And we must move quickly. [Press Herald]

Power lines at sunrise (Ron Shawley, Wikimedia Commons)

World:

¶ “Russia Denies Its Nuclear Plants Are Source Of Radiation Leak” • Russia said nuclear material detected over Scandinavia did not come from one of its power plants. Nuclear safety watchdogs in Finland, Norway, and Sweden had found higher-than-usual amounts of radioactive isotopes in the atmosphere, but Russia said its plants were working normally. [BBC]

¶ “BMW Considering (Gasp!) A Dedicated Electric Vehicle Chassis” • Yes, folks, it’s official. People in the BMW headquarters in Munich are thinking way, way outside the box and saying the company should consider building a dedicated electric car platform! Has the whole world gone mad with this electric car fever? The answer, apparently, is yes. [CleanTechnica]

BMW i3 cars (Zach Shahan | CleanTechnica)

¶ “Canopy Power Develops Renewable Microgrids In Asia With EDF” • Reportedly, Singapore-based energy company Canopy Power is partnering with EDF on the development of renewable energy microgrids in Asia. The microgrids can produce what Canopy describes as “cleaner and cheaper electricity where the grid won’t reach.” [Energy Digital]

¶ “EIB Funds Largest Solar Project In Spain’s Andalusia” • Solar energy firm Solarcentury secured €43.5 million ($48.9 million) in funding from the European Investment Bank to complete the construction and ensure the operation of four 50-MW solar arrays that make up what is claimed to be the largest solar energy project in Andalusia. [Power Engineering International]

Solar array

¶ “Hydrogen Fuel Bubbles Up The Agenda As Investments Rocket” • More than 50 years ago hydrogen fuel cells helped put Neil Armstrong on the moon, but mainstream usage of the technology has remained elusive since. Now there are signs that may be changing, with a spate of new investments even amid the coronavirus pandemic. [The Guardian]

¶ “Spain To Close Half Its Coal-Fired Power Stations” • Seven out of the fifteen coal-fired power stations still working in Spain will cease operations on June 30, after their owners – the electricity companies – decided that it does not make financial sense to adapt them to European regulations. And four more are getting ready to shut down soon. [EL PAÍS in English]

Puente Nuevo power plant in Córdoba (Paco Puentes)

Australia:

¶ “Over 300,000 Jobs Could Be Created If Australia Moves To Zero Emissions, New Report Shows” • Australia has lost 830,000 jobs to the Covid-19 pandemic. A plan released by Beyond Zero Emissions would create 360,000 jobs for a five year period with energy storage projects, housing retrofits, zero-energy social housing, and electric transport. [SBS]

¶ “Jemena Wants Emphasis On Renewable Gas” • Last month, the Australian federal government released the Technology Investment Roadmap Discussion Paper with a view to future investments in low emissions technologies. Pipeline owner and operator Jemena said renewable gases could keep the economy strong and energy costs affordable. [The Australian Pipeliner]

Electrolyzer

¶ “Organic Renewable Network In Australia” • Victoria’s Minister for Water announced two Renewable Organics Networks projects to reduce waste going to landfill while generating electricity. The networks will transform organic municipal and trade waste into renewable energy and soil enhancers that can be used for agricultural purposes. [Energy Harvesting Journal]

US:

¶ “Chesapeake Energy, Fracking Pioneer, Files For Bankruptcy Owing $9 Billion” • Chesapeake Energy, a leader in the fracking boom, has filed for bankruptcy protection. The company said its debts of $9 billion were unmanageable, and it entered a plan with lenders to cut $7 billion of them. It will continue operating as usual during the bankruptcy process. [The Guardian]

Petroleum industry workers (Ralph Wilson | AP)

¶ “Florida Has Thousands More Properties With High Flood Risk Than FEMA Says, According To New Study” • According to a model by the nonprofit First Street Foundation, about 114,000 more Florida properties are at risk of flooding in a 100-year storm than the Federal Emergency Management Agency currently estimates. [Tampa Bay Times]

¶ “Washington Transit Agency Getting Ten Electric Buses And Wireless Charging” • Ten of BYD’s fully electric K9S buses have arrived this year in Wenatchee, Washington. Richard DeRock, General Manager of Link Transit, said, “We’ve been operating the first eight since mid-March and they have been a huge help to our system.” [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric bus run by Link Transit (BYD image)

¶ “NM Wind Energy Development Surges Forward” • Pattern Energy will break ground this fall on a 1,000-MW complex of wind farms in central eastern New Mexico, as well as a new 150-mile transmission line to carry the energy to Western markets. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in Pattern’s plans for New Mexico. [Albuquerque Journal]

¶ “These Power Companies Fought For A $300 Million Nuclear Subsidy. Now They Want A New Deal” • Two large New Jersey energy companies are offering to give up a $300 million annual subsidy for their South Jersey nuclear power plants. In exchange, they want the state to agree to a plan restructuring how New Jersey gets electricity. [NJ Spotlight]

Have a superby uplifting day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Is GM’s ICE Business Worthless? Adam Jonas Seems To Say So” • Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas says GM’s EV business is worth $100 billion. Jonas’s price target of $43 per share puts GM’s total value at $60 billion. Doesn’t that mean that GM’s internal combustion engine business is worth less than nothing? [CleanTechnica]

2005 Corvette engine (Stephen Foskett, Wikimedia Commons)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Floating Solar Industry Coming Together To Develop Recommended Practices” • Floating solar power plants have gone from a tiny niche sector of the solar market in 2012 and 2013 to a pretty popular option in 2020. It seems sensible to develop a set of recommended practices. Hence there is a new global consortium to create just that. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Twenty-Seven Electric School Buses Headed To Quebec” • Transdev Canada is investing close to C$4.5 million into its fleet of electric school buses, adding 27 that bring bring the total up to 31 at the start of the school year. But that is just a start. Transdev Canada plans to electrify 100% of its Quebec school buses by 2025. [CleanTechnica]

School buses (Courtesy of Transdev Canada | Lion Electric)

¶ “Renewable, Green Energy Will Ensure Energy Security: Nasrul” • Bangladesh’s minister for power, energy, and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid, MP, said renewable energy and green energy would ensure energy security in the future. He said that it was possible to advance with a concept for setting up rooftop or floating solar power plants. [newagebd.net]

¶ “How Scotland Can Kickstart The Economy Through Green Energy” • Scotland is set to restart its economy as it emerges from the Covid-19 crisis by harnessing “limitless quantities of renewable energy potential.” It could wipe out gas central heating with “green hydrogen” and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 30 years. [HeraldScotland]

Offshore windpower

¶ “New Coal Power Plants Increasing Financial Burden Of Pakistan: Report” • With slowing demand for electricity growth, Pakistan is faced with the increasing financial risk of overcapacity at a time when renewables are the cheapest source of energy available, a report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found. [Business Recorder]

¶ “France Pulls Plug On Country’s Oldest Fessenheim Nuclear Plant” • France’s oldest nuclear power plant will shut down on Tuesday, June 30, after four decades in operation. This is to the delight of environmental activists who have warned of the risks it poses since the Fukushima Disaster, but it stokes worry for the local economy. [Daily Nation]

Fessenheim nuclear plant (Photo: Sebastien Bozon | AFP)

¶ “‘Slight’ Radioactivity Rise In Nordic Countries” • Russia’s power operator downplayed observations by Nordic nuclear safety agencies of slightly increased levels of radioactive isotopes in parts of Finland, Scandinavia, and the Arctic. Analysis of Nordic data showed that radionuclides came “from the direction of Western Russia.” [Taiwan News]

US:

¶ “Inheriting The Wind: Mart Area Catching Boost From Renewable Energy Development” • The Texas prairie farmland between Mart and Groesbeck is being transformed into a forest of wind towers. And by the end of the year, 100 turbines will be spinning and providing more than 300 MW of power to Walmart and other customers. [Waco Tribune-Herald]

Prairie Hill wind project (Photo: Chris Oliver)

¶ “Florida Leading Large Solar Power Growth In US Southeast” • The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has tracked clean energy in the Southeast for years. Its annual Solar in the Southeast report has state comparisons on megawatts of solar installed, policy, and other matters, making clear installed solar capacity per customer for states and utilities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Debate Over Burning Dead Trees To Create Biomass Energy” • Drought, a warming climate, and infestations of bark beetles have killed 147 million trees in  California since 2013. Scientists say these trees are poised to burn with blazes so intense they will leave some places unable to establish new forests. But there is debate about taking them for energy. [WIRED]

California forest (Noah Berger | Getty Images)

¶ “US DOE Putting Money Into Coal ‘Innovation’ Grants” • The US DOE said it is spending $122 million to establish research hubs around the country that will look at new ways to use coal as a base for material manufacturing. The “innovation centers” around the country that will try to find ways to use coal as a mineral source. [WHYY]

¶ “Transition In Coal Country: Healthcare Crises Mount At Rural Hospitals” • The only hospital serving a vast swath of Wyoming’s coal country was in financial trouble even before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Gillette-based Campbell County Health’s revenue began to slip after layoffs at the mines in  2016. Now things are much worse. [Oil City News]

Have a gloriously serene day.

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Opinion:

¶ “What Will Power The Post-Pandemic Global Economic Recovery?” • As governments restart their economies, the UN is calling for recovery plans to be built around technologies with low carbon emissions. As economies recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to avoid a return to fossil-fuel based business as usual. [UN News]

Coal power plant in Bosnia (Photo by UNEP)

¶ “California “Requires” Trucks Clean Up Their Act – But The Rule Is Late And Weak” • The California Air Resources Board proudly proclaimed that it was the first in the world to adopt a requirement that truck makers switch production from diesel trucks to zero-emissions trucks. However, the new policy is a little late and a little lame. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Fading Winters, Hotter Summers Make The Northeast America’s Fastest Warming Region” • Washington Post analysis also found that the New York City area, including counties in Long Island, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, was among about half a dozen hot spots nationally where warming has already exceeded 2°C. [InsideClimate News]

Connecticut shore (Credit: Spencer Platt | Getty Images)

World:

¶ “Vattenfall Pilot Scheme Tackles Fluctuating EV Charging” • Vattenfall has developed software for EV charging stations that controls the charging speed according to the supply of renewable electricity. The software, which has seen limited deployment in the Netherlands, is designed to react to how much energy from wind or solar power is being supplied. [reNEWS]

¶ “After 116 Years, Volkswagen’s Zwickau Factory Produced Its Last Fossil Fuel Vehicle Today” • Volkswagen’s Zwickau factory is switching 100% to electric vehicles. It will produce a total of six models from three Volkswagen Group brands (Volkswagen, Audi, and Seat). Today was the last day it produced a vehicle powered by fossil fuels. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen Zwickau factory (Volkswagen courtesy image)

¶ “EU Energy Policy Needs Teeth To Limit Temperature Increase To 1.5° Says IEA Review” • The International Energy Agency said in its report “European Union 2020 – Energy Policy Review,” that the EU needs to have stronger policies in place than it now has to deliver on the goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5°C. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Labour Aims To Turn Island Into Exporter Of Renewable Energy, Not Oil” • Labour’s Southampton City Council formed a local energy company that reduces bills for local residents while also providing all its energy from renewable sources. Labour on the Isle of Wight would establish a similar company, but it would go further to stop oil drilling. [Isle of Wight Observer]

Offshore windpower

¶ “Russia Prepares To Build New Nuclear Reactors At Leningrad And Smolensk” • Preparations are underway in Russia to build new nuclear power units in the regions of Leningrad (within which the city of Saint Petersburg lies) and Smolensk after a decision was signed by Alexey Likhachev, director general of state-owned Rosatom. [Nuclear Engineering]

US:

¶ “How Quickly The Tide Turns On Coal” • Colorado Springs will close down both of its coal-fired power plants within the next decade. The Martin Drake plant was to close by 2035. Instead, it will close in 2023. And surprisingly, the role of natural gas in replacing coal will be very limited, with no new combined cycle plant in the works. [Mountain Town News]

Drake coal plant in Colorado Springs

¶ “DC Attorney General Is Suing Oil And Gas Companies For Their Misinformation Campaigns” • The Attorney General of DC is suing ExxonMobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, and Chevron, saying all have all violated the District’s consumer protection law. They are accused of presenting a “false picture” to residents about the environment damage of their products. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Arizona Utility Plots 2.5-GW Renewables Revolution” • Arizona utility Tucson Electric Power filed its 2020 integrated resource plan with the Arizona Corporation Commission. It includes 2457 MW of new wind and solar capacity by 2035. About 457MW of wind and solar is planned to come online in the next 12 months. [reNEWS]

Building a wind turbine (Tucson Electric Power image)

¶ “AEP is putting out the call for solar” • Appalachian Power, an American Electric Power subsidiary, is asking for bidders on up to 50 MW of solar energy resources in West Virginia. The request for proprosal has a minimum bid size of 10 MW, to be operating by December 2022. Developers may include energy storage in their proposals. [West Virginia MetroNews]

¶ “Poll Finds Climate Change Still An Important Issue For Floridians Amid Covid-19” • The third Florida Climate Resilience Survey by Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies and the Business and Economics Polling Initiative finds that 89% of respondents accept the science of climate change, up from 86% in January. [WLRN]

Climate strikers in Florida, 2019 (Brendan Rivers | WJCT News)

¶ “Colleges Reassessing Energy Needs, Sustainability Goals In The Face Of Covid-Related Shutdowns” • US universities and colleges have been using Covid-related campus closures as a time to analyze their energy needs and sustainability goals. Some are aiming to hit their carbon reduction goals sooner, and some are looking at new options. [pv magazine usa]

¶ “PRPA Brings Roundhouse Wind Project Onto The Power Network” • Wind power from the 225-MW Roundhouse Wind Energy Center north of the Colorado-Wyoming border is now part of the Platte River Power Authority’s electrical power mix. With that new source, PRPA gets about 50% of its energy from noncarbon sources. [Loveland Reporter-Herald]

Have an amazingly easy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Energy Giants Want To Thwart Reforms That Would Help Renewables And Lower Power Bills” • Australia doesn’t encourage competition and that’s holding back the transition to renewable energy. Important reforms to modernize the market are on the way, but big energy companies are seeking to use the cover of Covid-19 to prevent the change. [EcoGeneration]

Offshore wind farm (Shutterstock image)

¶ “BP Takes $18 Billion Writedown – What’s Up With That?” • BP, one of the largest fossil fuel companies in history, did something unexpected this week. It wrote off $18 billion worth of its assets, significantly reducing the stated value of its oil and gas reserves. BP CEO Bernard Looney cited the likelihood of a reorientation toward the Paris Agreement goals. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Wärtsilä To Design And Equip Two Electric Ferries For Norway” • Wärtsilä’s work in battery-powered vessels paid off recently with a contract to design and equip two new zero-emissions ferries. The company will build the double-ended shuttle ferries for Norwegian operator Boreal Sjö at Holland Shipyards in the Netherlands. [CleanTechnica]

Electric ferries (Image courtesy of Wärtsilä)

¶ “Rocky Mountain Institute Launches New Climate Tech Accelerator” • Faced with the rising urgency of the climate crisis, Rocky Mountain Institute and New Energy Nexus announced the launch of a new joint venture called Third Derivative. Its aim is to accelerate climate innovation worldwide by connecting startups with needed resources. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy Firms Find Opportunity In Brazil’s Mining Sector” • Anglo American’s Brazilian unit signed a contract with wind power company Casa dos Ventos, acquiring up to 95 MW from the Rio do Vento complex, in Rio Grande do Norte state. Mining giant Vale announced in May it would invest $2 billion in renewable energy projects. [BNamericas English]

Remote control mining trucks

¶ “Shifting To Renewable Energy To Save Israel $2.62 Billion: Ministry Report” • According to a report released by Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, combined cycle facilities with renewable energy and battery energy storage will save the Israeli economy 9 billion new shekels (about $2.62 billion). They will also reduce emissions and pollution. [Xinhua]

¶ “Renewable Energy Breaks UK Record In First Quarter Of 2020” • The UK government’s official data has revealed that renewable energy made up 47% of the electricity generation in the first three months of 2020, smashing the previous quarterly record of 39% set last year. A surge in wind power helped to set a new record for clean energy. [The Guardian]

Wind turbines in England (David Rogers | Getty Images)

¶ “Renewables Uptake ‘Driving Down’ EU Emissions” • Lower EU greenhouse gas emissions today are largely due to the growth in renewable generation, an International Energy Agency energy policy review showed. EU greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were 23% lower than in 1990. The EU has already met its target of a 20% decline by 2020. [reNEWS]

¶ “IAEA Releases 2019 Data On Nuclear Power Plants Operating Experience” • The International Atomic Energy Agency has released its comprehensive annual nuclear power assessment. At the end of December 2019, the global operating nuclear power capacity was 392.1 GW, a decrease of some 4.5 GW compared with 2018. [International Atomic Energy Agency]

Indian Point nuclear plant (Roban Kramer, Wikimedia Commons)

US:

¶ “West Coast Electric Utilities Map Out I-5 Electric Truck Charging Sites” • Nine West Coast utilities and two agencies created a study, to map out important EV charging infrastructure for trucks. The report recommends adding electric vehicle charging for trucks at 50-mile intervals along Interstate 5 and adjoining highways. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “USA Could Hit 90% Clean Electricity By 2035” • A new analysis from UC Berkeley asks how fast we can go to 90% zero-carbon power – by which it means wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear power – at no extra cost to consumers. Thanks to rapidly falling costs for wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries, the answer is 2035. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (Photo courtesy of Array Technologies)

¶ “Trump Administration Moves To Make Millions More Acres Available For Oil And Gas Leasing In Alaska Reserve” • A federal agency has released a final management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The plan proposes to make 7 million additional acres of land on the North Slope open to potential oil and gas development. [Anchorage Daily News]

¶ “US Renewables Produce 27% More Power Than Coal, Outpace Nuclear Over Four Months” • In the US, renewable energy sources produced significantly more electricity than coal during the first four months of 2020 and topped nuclear power as well, the SUN DAY Campaign shows, based on data from the Energy Information Administration. [Renewables Now]

Wind farm in Oklahoma (US Dept of Agriculture image)

¶ “House Democrats Unveil Green Tax Package” • US House Democrats unveiled a major green tax package, offering tax incentives for renewables, electric vehicles and a host of other environmentally friendly businesses. The legislation would extend several renewable energy tax breaks, and it would expand some incentives. [The Hill]

¶ “Duke Energy Offers Renewable Energy Certificate Program For Residential Customers” • A Duke Energy press release says the company’s Renewable Advantage program provides a way for customers to supplement their energy use with renewable energy and help local schools go solar at the same time, at a fee of $3 per month. [Mountain Xpress]

Have an energizingly excellent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Facebook Creates Fact-Checking Exemption For Climate Deniers” • Facebook is “aiding and abetting the spread of climate misinformation,” said environmental sociologist Robert Brulle. “They have become the vehicle for climate misinformation, and thus should be held partially responsible for a lack of action on climate change.” [PR Watch]

Earth (NASA Johnson Space Center)

World:

¶ “73.5% of Londoners Changed Usual Mode of Transport Due to Ultra Low Emission Zone” • London has demonstrated a solution that genuinely works to clean up the air and get people using healthier, more climate-friendly modes of transport. Its “Ultra Low Emissions Zone,” established on April 8, 2019, led to major shifts in transportation patterns. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Denmark To Address Carbon Emissions With New Universal Fees – Final Negotiations This Fall Could Be Historic” • Finally something is getting real for reducing Danish greenhouse gas emissions 70% by 2030. The Danish national media outlet reports that a majority coalition of the parties in parliament have agreed on a tax on the emissions. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Credit: Jesper Berggreen)

¶ “Nineteen times More Invested In EVs & EV Batteries In Europe Last Year Than In 2018” • According to a Transport & Environment report, Europe poured €60 billion into EV production and EV battery production in 2019, 19 times as much as it did in 2018. Some of the results are clear. EV market share has been skyrocketing in Europe. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Largest Solar Plant In Italy Plugs Into The Grid” • Danish developer European Energy has connected a 103-MW solar PV park in Italy to the grid. The plant, in Apulia, is the largest built in the country to date. Construction took one year. It will produce enough energy to cover annual consumption of a city with 200,000 inhabitants. [reNEWS]

Solar park (European Energy image)

¶ “Renewables To Create Three Times More Jobs Than Fossil Fuels By 2030: IRENA” • An International Renewable Energy Agency report shows that scaling up annual energy spending to $4.5 trillion per year would boost the world economy by 1.3% more, creating 19 million more jobs related to the energy transition by 2030. [Technical Review Middle East]

¶ “UK Offshore Wind Cheaper Than New Nuclear” • Offshore wind farms being built in UK waters will produce electricity more cheaply than the next generation of nuclear power stations. Electricity from new nuclear plants is likely to cost £60/MWh. But electricity from offshore wind plants will be delivered at a strike price as low as £39.65/MWh. [reNEWS]

Offshore windpower (Nicholas Doherty | Unsplash)

¶ “Canadian Utility Formally Drops Underground Radioactive Waste Storage Next To Lake Huron” • An Ontario nuclear power generating company, Ontario Power Generation, has officially dropped its pursuit of a deep underground storage facility for low- to intermediate-level radioactive waste within a half-mile of Lake Huron. [Detroit Free Press]

US:

¶ “Electric Shuttle Vans Are Now In Service In Sacramento, California” • This month, three new electric shuttles funded by Electrify America’s “Green Cities” program were deployed in Sacramento, California. The vehicles are EV Star shuttles from GreenPower Motor Company. And SmaRT Ride provides point to point transportation. [CleanTechnica]

EV Shuttle (Photo courtesy Electrify America)

¶ “Pew Poll Shows Americans Favor Renewables And Climate Action” • The latest Pew Research poll, conducted in April and May of this year, shows the number of Americans clamoring for aggressive action on renewable energy and climate change is at an all-time high. That means voter support for the fossil fuel party has eroded substantially. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Minnesota Sues Exxonmobil, Koch Industries, And Top Oil And Gas Trade Association For Climate-Related Consumer Fraud” • The suit alleges that the two companies and the trade association violated state consumer protection laws as they misled Minnesotans about the role fossil fuels play in causing the climate crisis. [Union of Concerned Scientists]

Koch refinery

¶ “Trump Administration Wind And Solar Approvals Lag Obama Record: Study” • President Donald Trump’s Interior Department has approved about half as many wind and solar energy projects on federal lands as the Obama administration had at the same point in its first term, according to a report published by the Center for American Progress. [Reuters]

¶ “Oh The Irony: Fossil Fuel Financier Signs A Major Solar Contract With Fossil Fuel Producer” • A report by The Washington Post says that Wells Fargo has signed a varying Power Purchase Agreement with Shell Energy for 150 MW of US solar power. It which will be purchased from plants at three locations in Virginia and one in California. [RenewEconomy]

Solar array (Steve Parsons | PA Wire)

¶ “Staff For New Mexico Regulators Pushes Renewables For San Juan Replacement” • Hearing examiners are recommending that the state Public Regulation Commission replace power from the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico with renewable energy sources on tribal lands and within the same school district. [Santa Fe New Mexican]

¶ “Many US Cities Turn To Renewables For Electricity Supply” • The new Local Government Renewables Action Tracker resource showed that local governments across the US have signed a total of 335 deals to procure 8.28 GW of renewable energy over the last five years, according to a statement by the World Resources Institute. [OilPrice.com]

Have a perfectly charming day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Global Demise Of Coal-Fired Generation Driven By Idle And Unprofitable Plants” • Baseload power just isn’t what it used to be. The demise of coal is now a global phenomenon that – rather like Covid-19 – is no respecter of borders or governments, with both China and the US grappling with the social and economic impacts of overcapacity. [pv magazine USA]

Sunset at a coal plant (Flickr cc Tony Webster)

Science and Technology:

¶ “The Destructive Power Of Extreme Hail” • Hailstorms have always been a part of life in Kenya, but farmers have noticed the problem worsening. Hail storms are less predictable, and the hailstones are getting bigger. Answering the question of whether extreme hail is linked to climate change is complex. But climate modeling predicts it. [BBC]

World:

¶ “Norway May Achieve Emissions Reduction Goals This Year, Thanks To More EVs And Higher Public Transportation Usage” • Eight years ago, the Norwegian government established carbon reduction goals. This year, for the first time, it may achieve its goals. Preliminary data suggests this emissions will be precisely at the target established in 2012. [CleanTechnica]

EV charging in Norway (Credit: Elbil Norway)

¶ “Scottish Renewables Calls For Funding To Retrain Oil And Gas Workers” • Every gigawatt of renewable power capacity installed in Scotland creates 1,500 jobs and adds £133m of gross value to the economy, according to new research by Scottish Renewables. The industry body urged ministers to establish a Renewable Transition Training Fund. [Holyrood]

¶ “Spain Pushes Clean Energy Decree To Speed Renewable Rollout” • Spain’s cabinet has approved a decree aimed at smoothing the rollout of renewable energy generation, with measures to combat speculation in the market, cut red tape, and overhaul an outdated auction system to reassure investors and lower prices. [Jakarta Post]

Solar and the city (File image, Shutterstock)

¶ “The Surprising Way Renewables Can Help Farmers Cope” • It turns out that with solar panels, even the grass is greener during a drought. That’s the experience of one Australian grazier, who says condensation dripping off the panels arrayed across 55 hectares of his farm provided a moisture source that was the envy of neighbours. [The Sydney Morning Herald]

¶ “Hydrogen Can Meet 50% Of UK Energy Demand By 2050” • Hydrogen can meet up to half of the UK’s final energy demand by 2050 and play a significant role in meeting the country’s net-zero emissions targets, research by Aurora Energy Research shows. Hydrogen can store power produced during the summer for use in winter months. [reNEWS]

Renewables and hydrogen (Credit: APAC Hydrogen Association)

¶ “Renewables Are Increasingly Cheaper Than Coal” • The International Renewable Energy Agency says half of new solar and wind installations undercut fossil fuels in 2019. Many new renewable energy projects are now cheaper than even the cheapest coal-fired power plants. And costs for renewable energy are still falling. [World Economic Forum]

¶ “Canadian Developer Commits To Final Phase Whitla Giant” • Canadian developer Capital Power Corporation is to construct the third phase of the 353-MW Whitla wind farm, in south eastern Alberta. Capital Power has initiated the permitting process for the 54-MW Whitla Wind 3 with the Alberta Electric System Operator. [reNEWS]

Blade installation (Vestas image)

US:

¶ “30% Of Shale Oil Companies Could Go Belly Up If Crude Stays This Cheap” • Muted crude prices, huge piles of debt and capital flight away from fossil fuels threaten a set of bankruptcies for US shale oil companies. About 30% of shale operators are technically insolvent at $35-a-barrel oil prices, according to a study released by Deloitte. [CNN]

¶ “Electric Trucks And Vans From Fiat, Citroen, And Volvo Coming Soon” • The US DOT’s Federal Transit Administration announced some good news at the beginning of June to support for more efficient bus fleets. And New Flyer has announced that it was named as a partner of choice by 12 major transit agencies across America. [CleanTechnica]

New Flyer bus at a charging station (New Flyer image)

¶ “Three Companies That Are Bigger Than The Entire Oil & Gas Industry” • The US oil and gas sector was once worth a combined $3 trillion; now there are three companies with higher valuations than the entire sector. It is worth note that all three – Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft – are tech giants with sizable clean energy investments. [OilPrice.com]

¶ “Amazon Reports 15% Rise In Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Announces $2 Billion Low-Carbon Investment Fund” • Amazon’s total CO₂ emissions increased 15% in 2019, though they declined on the basis of emissions per dollar of sales. The commerce giant continues emissions-reduction efforts, and announced a new $2 billion investment fund. [Seattle Times]

Jeff Bezos (Pablo Martinez Monsivais | Associated Press)

¶ “Icebreaker Appeals Turbine Restrictions Decision” • The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation appealed a ruling made by the Ohio Power Siting Board on the Icebreaker offshore wind farm on Lake Erie. LEEDCo said the ruling may be “fatal” for the 21-MW project. The company asked the OPSB for a rehearing to reconsider the decision. [reNEWS]

¶ “US DOE Announces $65 Million In New Nuclear Technology Funding” • The US DOE announced more than $65 million for nuclear energy research in areas of technology development, facility access, and infrastructure for 93 advanced nuclear technology projects. The awards fall under three DOE nuclear energy programs. [Power Engineering International]

Have a wonderfully pleasant day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Truth About The Future Of Gas: We Don’t Need To Build Anymore” • A study from UC Berkeley shows it is technically and economically feasible to reach 90% clean electricity by 2035 without building any new gas plants and reducing generation from existing plants by 70%, all without any increase in wholesale power costs compared to today. [Utility Dive]

Solar and wind energy

Science and Technology:

¶ “Planting New Forests ‘Can Do More Harm Than Good'” • Two studies found that rather than benefiting the environment, large-scale tree planting may do the opposite. One says that financial incentives to plant trees can reduce biodiversity with little impact on CO₂ emissions. The other found that the amount of CO₂ new forests can absorb may be overestimated. [BBC]

World:

¶ “India Completes World’s Largest Solar Tender, Aims To Reduce Chinese Solar Imports” • Solar power is growing in India, despite Covid-19. Adani Green Energy Limited and Azure Power have been declared to be the winners of the largest solar tender, for installation of 12 GW of solar power generation and 3 GW per year solar manufacturing. [CleanTechnica]

Making PVs (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)

¶ “India To Impose Tariff Barrier On Solar Cells, Modules, Inverters From 30 July” • In what will make solar cells, modules and inverters imported from China expensive, India is set to impose a basic customs duty as soon as the safeguard duty, currently in place, expires on 29 July, according to two people aware of the development. [Livemint]

¶ “Lithuania Chooses 700-MW Offshore Wind Site” • Lithuania has agreed on the site of an offshore wind farm of up to 700-MW in the Baltic Sea. The site is about 29 km from shore and covers an area of 137.5 square kilometres in average water depths of 35 metres. The government said the area has an average wind speed of approximately nine metres a second. [reNEWS]

Offshore wind farm (Rachel Cooper | Unsplash)

¶ “Off-The-Charts Warm: Siberian Town Hits 100 Degrees” • A Siberian town, nestled about 6 miles within the Arctic Circle, recorded a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C), likely setting a new record for the hottest temperature recorded that far north. The milestone comes as Siberia has experienced unusually warm conditions since the start of 2020. [NBCNews.com]

Australia:

¶ “SA-NSW Interconnector Key To Renewables Transition” • The Government of South Australia has identified the SA-NSW interconnector as critical to its plan to reach 100% renewable energy. Together with the Australian Energy Market Operator, the SA Government released a report detailing how it plans to transition to renwables. [Infrastructure Magazine]

Sticks & Strings (Shutterstock image)

¶ “Small Modular Reactor Rhetoric Hits A Hurdle” • The latest GenCost report by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Australian Energy Market Operator estimates a hopelessly uneconomic construction cost of A$16,304/kW ($11,287/kW) for Small Modular Reactors. The only hope for nuclear is cost reduction. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “NSW First Renewable Zone Attracts Stunning 27 GW Of Solar, Wind, Storage Proposals” • The New South Wales government’s plan to establish its first renewable energy zone in the state’s Central West has received a “phenomenal” response, attracting 113 registrations of interest for projects totalling a massive 27 GW. [RenewEconomy]

Solar farm

US:

¶ “Central USA Set Several Wind Power Records In Spring” • Earlier this year, the Southwest Power Pool, the regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid for much of the central US, set records for the highest share of electricity demand supplied by wind power in both a single-hour period (72%) and a full day (62%). [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nevada Plans To Adopt California’s Fuel Economy Standards” • Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has decided to side with California and Tesla, not Donald Trump and certain lagging automakers, on the need for cleaner cars. Governor Sisolak announced that Nevada would adopt California’s fuel economy regulations. [CleanTechnica]

ABB solar power plant in Nevada

¶ “Southern Power Brings Live 200-MW Wind Farm In Kansas” • Wholesale energy provider Southern Power said it has put on stream its 200-MW Reading Wind Facility in Kansas. The wind farm uses 62 Siemens Gamesa turbines. Their annual output, which is estimated at some 760,000 MWh, will be sold to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. [Renewables Now]

¶ “Taxpayers Are Footing The Bill For 100-Year Old Oil Wells” • Plugging old oil and gas wells may cost as much as ten times what the industry routinely estimates, according to a Carbon Tracker report. As oil and gas companies walk away from their “stranded liabilities,” state and local governments may be left to pick up the tab. [OilPrice.com] Thanks to Tad Montgomery

Nodding donkey (Shutterstock image)

¶ “Missoula City, County Ink Blueprint With NW Energy For 100% Clean Energy Future” • Saying they’d move forward with or without NorthWestern Energy, the city and county of Missoula has unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Montana’s monopoly utility in a drive to achieve 100% clean electricity. [Missoula Current]

¶ “TVA Gives Distributors More Flexibility To Generate Their Own Power” • For the first time, the Tennessee Valley Authority is allowing the municipal power utilities and electric co-ops that distribute TVA electricity to generate up to 5% of their own power to sell directly to their customers. This will spur more renewable developemnt. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]

Have a fabulously fortunate day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Latin America’s Potential Green Hydrogen Economy” • The Covid-19 pandemic and crisis has led to increasing calls to redouble efforts toward an energy transition that would help the world reduce CO₂ emissions. For many countries of the Latin American region, clean hydrogen markets can be a key part of the economic recovery. [Inter Press Service]

Providencia Solar in El Salvador (Edgardo Ayala | IPS)

Science and Technology:

¶ “MIT Study Explains Why Climate Change Will Make Some Mediterranean Countries Drier” • Researchers at MIT, along with colleagues at Université Mohamed VI Polytechnique in Morocco, published a study in the Journal of Climate on the connection between a warming climate and reduced rainfall in northwest Africa and in the Middle East. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Lightyear Research Vehicles (Including Tesla Model 3) Test Out New Solar Technology” • Dutch tech company Lightyear is testing two EVs, a Tesla Model 3 and a VW Crafter LCV, in conjunction with a new type of solar technology for its own EV, the Lightyear One. They aim to demonstrate the added value of integrated solar cells on vehicles. [CleanTechnica]

Lightyear One at home

¶ “Europe’s Thinking Shifts On Supporting Renewables As Part Of Green Recovery Package” • The EU’s plans for a €1.85 trillion ($2.08 trillion) coronavirus recovery package may not support big renewable energy projects in the way that was expected. The possibility of a 15-GW EU renewable tender has not survived pushback by vested interests. [Greentech Media]

¶ “Simec Atlantis Secures 12-MW French Tidal Lease” • The Prefecture de la Manche approved the transfer of a lease to develop a 12-MW tidal power project to a newly set up marine energy development company, Normandie Hydroliennes. The long-term goal is to harness up to 3 GW of power from areas of the Channel. [reNEWS]

Tidal turbine (Simec Atlantis image)

¶ “Africa50 Joins Investors To Power The World’s Largest Solar Park” • Thirty international infrastructure developers are to invest in Egypt’s 1.5-GW Benban solar park, which will be the largest in the world upon completion. The 37-square-kilometer solar park will have over seven million PV panels, with funding of $4 billion. [ESI Africa]

¶ “A Look At Tanzania’s First Wind Farm” • The Mwenga project, the first wind farm in Tanzania, is complete, as installation and testing works were finalized in May. The 2.4-MW project got a $1.2 million loan from the UK Government-funded Renewable Energy Performance Platform, though the efforts of energy investment firm Camco. [Power Technology]

Mwenga project (Camco image)

¶ “Sunny Side Up: Poland’s Solar Energy Output Soars” • The expected solar energy output of Poland is to peak at 8 GW by 2025 and possibly place the country in the EU’s top 10, according to the latest report by the Renewable Energy Institute. At the end of 2019, Poland’s solar power output was a mere 1.3 GW, but by June it had grown to nearly 2 GW. [The First News]

¶ “Dutch Do Danish Deal To Hit Clean Power Target” • The Netherlands agreed to pay Denmark €100 million as part of a deal to allow the Dutch government to declare at least 8 TWh of Danish surplus renewable power on its books, in an effort to meet its EU target. The Netherlands is one of the worst countries for hitting benchmarks for 2020. [EURACTIV]

Dutch wind farm (Shutterstock photo)

¶ “Engineers Say Technology Roadmap Should Focus On Cheap Renewables, Energy Storage” • The Australian government’s proposed technology roadmap props up gas and refuses to rule out coal or small modular nuclear reactors. The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering responded with a call for commitment to renewable energy. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Blockades Lifted, Operations Resume At OIL’S Baghjan Wells” • Oil India Limited said most of its wells in Assam’s Baghjan, which were shut due to protests by locals over a fire at a gas well after a days-long blowout, have resumed operations following a meeting with a representative body of residents mediated by the Tinsukia district administration. [ETEnergyworld.com]

Oil fire in Assam

US:

¶ “Tesla Claims Lowest Prices For Rooftop Solar” • In a blog post, Tesla introduced changes to its rooftop solar business that it says will allow it to offer the lowest prices on residential systems. Note that the post makes no mention of the company’s vaunted Solar Roof. It is all about rooftop systems that use conventional solar panels and racking systems. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Santa Monica To Pilot Zero Emissions Delivery Zones” • The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator chose Santa Monica’s main business district for the pilot for the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s new Neighborhood Zero Emissions Delivery Zone. LACI and Santa Monica are interested in assessing a broad range of technologies. [CleanTechnica]

Los Angeles traffic (Jeff Turner | flickr, CC BY 2.0)

¶ “Your Home Battery Can Be Part Of A Virtual Power Plant In California” • With solar power and batteries your house stays alive with power, even if the grid goes down, but there are other advantages of such systems. Sunrun and Southern California Edison are partnering to create one of the country’s largest virtual power plants. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Big Rivers To Buy Energy From Solar Farm” • Big Rivers Electric Corp has plans to purchase solar power from a 1,700 acre solar farm that will be built in Henderson County, Kentucky. Geronimo Energy, based in Bloomington, Minnesota, is to start building the 160-MW solar farm in 2022, and it is expected to go online in 2023. [messenger-inquirer]

Have an enjoyably salubrious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Stars Have Aligned For Hydrogen Economy” • Hydrogen, for use as a carbon free fuel and as energy storage for renewables, is attracting unprecedented interest. And all of the factors that are required for the construction of a hydrogen economy are falling into place, the expert panel assembled for the PE Live 7 webcast agreed last week. [Petroleum Economist]

Hydrogen delivery truck (Dicklyon, Wikimedia Commons)

¶ “Expensive, Dirty And Dangerous: Why We Must Fight Miners’ Push To Fast-Track Uranium Mines” • Of all the elements on Earth, none is more strictly controlled under law than uranium. In Australia, it is regulated at both the federal and state levels. The Minerals Council of Australia wants to change this, putting it into the hands of the states. [EconoTimes]

Science and Technology:

¶ “For Green Hydrogen, Artificial Leaf Breathes Down Neck Of Electrolysis” • Hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel, but most H₂ is made from fossil gas. There is a lot going on in the field of electrolysis, in which H₂ pops out of plain water when you apply an electrical current. There is also an “artificial leaf” concept, and it may finally be catching on. [CleanTechnica]

Artifical leaf (Image by Jia Liang, Rice University)
(Please click on the image to enlarge it.)

¶ “Researchers Report Significant Improvement In Fuel Cell Technology” • Scientists Vijay Ramani, Zhongyang Wang, and Shrihari Sankarasubramanian have been studying fuel cells that operate on NaBH₄, a liquid that does not need to be pressurized the way H₂ does. It eliminates one of the troublesome aspects of conventional fuel cells. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Argonne Researchers Use Deep Learning To Study Avian Interactions With Solar Panels” • The DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory came up with a way to monitor avian interactions with solar infrastructure cost-effectively. It has been awarded $1.3 million to develop a technology to deal with birds and how they interact with the solar panels. [Mercom India]

Solar array with a bird – in the tiny red square on the right

World:

¶ “Fluence Announces 6th Generation Energy Storage Tech” • An announcement by Fluence gives a pretty good indication of where the energy storage market is heading. The company says it has commitments from Enel, LS Power, sPower, and Siemens to install 800 MW / 2300 MWh of battery storage using its 6th generation technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewable Energy Is Electrifying Covid-19 Isolation Centers In Nigeria” • In Nigeria, the Covid-19 crisis came with declining oil revenue and stalled economic growth. This has hit the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry. Some of the mini grid companies innovated to provide essential support for electricity services at health care centers. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array (@Cleantechhubng via Twitter)

¶ “Electricity Transmission Companies Are Learning To ‘Perform And Transform’ In Move To Low Carbon Future” • Transmission companies are deploying innovative ‘perform and transform’ strategies as part of the energy sector’s transition to a low carbon future, according to a report from PwC and the World Energy Council. [Modern Diplomacy]

¶ “Solar Power Is Making Huge Inroads Across Africa, But Coal Is Creating Headaches” • As PVs get ever cheaper, solar power will inevitably spread across Africa, as it is doing around the world. Recent announcements show that the technology-driven energy transition is unstoppable. Meanwhile, some of China’s coal plans on the continent face setbacks. [RenewEconomy]

100-MW Solar system Engie is building in South Africa

¶ “Energy Sector To Ramp Up Investment In Renewables” • The UK’s oil and gas sector, and one of the country’s ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers, have unveiled plans to invest more in renewables and sustainable energy. The news comes alongside positive reports that the European Union looks set to beat its 2030 renewable energy targets. [T3]

US:

¶ “Already Under Pressure, Virginia’s Coal Industry Sees Idled Mines And Furloughs Amid Covid-19 Pandemic” • Appalachian coal has declined for decades. Virginia had 10,662 coal mining jobs in 1990, and only 2,576 in 2019. With Covid-19, the Energy Information Administration forecast a 35% drop in Appalachian coal production this year. [Bristol Herald Courier]

Coal miner on break (AP photo)

¶ “Study: Air Pollution From Fracking Linked To Deaths In PA” • A study found a correlation between shale gas extraction with particulate matter pollution and mortality in areas where active fracking wells are sited. Researchers used NASA satellite data to pinpoint daily levels of particulate matter pollution from wells in Pennsylvania. [Binghamton University]

¶ “As Offshore Wind Projects Pile Up, Glimmers Of Progress On The State And Federal Level” • Since 2016, when its five offshore turbines started spinning, the Block Island Wind has been the only commercial wind farm in operation in US waters. Now, sixteen projects slated for the Eastern Seaboard from North Carolina to Massachusetts. [CT Examiner]

Have a beautifully heartwarming day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Big Auto’s Decision To ‘Wait And See’ Gives Tesla A Growing Lead” • By most accounts, Tesla’s EV technology is about five years ahead of anything any other automaker can muster. The majors’ EV strategies are best described as “wait and see.” But as they do so, Tesla is actually building experience and expanding the lead it already has. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla Model X (CleanTechnica)

¶ “Modular Or Not, Nuclear Power Would Be Too Expensive For South Africa” • A request for information on modular nuclear plants by the SA Department of Mineral Resources and Energy attempts to manipulate the South African public into believing that a build-own-operate and transfer model and modular nuclear construction are affordable. [Business Day]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change: Sport Heading For A Fall As Temperatures Rise” • Global sport faces major disruption from climate change in coming decades, an analysis shows. By 2050, it’s estimated that almost one in four English football league grounds can expect flooding every year. Tennis, rugby, and other sports will also face serious challenges. [BBC]

A little water flooding a sporting event (Getty Images)

World:

¶ “Greta Thunberg: Climate Change ‘As Urgent’ As Coronavirus” • Greta Thunberg says the world needs to learn the lessons of coronavirus and treat climate change with similar urgency. That means the world be acting “with necessary force,” the Swedish climate activist said in an interview with BBC News. She said the world is reaching a “social tipping point.” [BBC]

¶ “Vatican Asks Catholics To Ditch Fossil Fuel Investments” • The Vatican urged Catholics to consider closely where they invest their money and to take a close look at the environmental impact of the companies they may hold shares in, Reuters reported. Pope Francis has frequently criticized wanton greed that led to the climate crisis. [EcoWatch]

St Peter’s Basilica (Andreas Solaro | AFP via Getty Images)

¶ “Tesla Given Green Light To Generate Electricity In The UK” • It seems Tesla plans to develop virtual power plants in the UK using its real-time trading and control platform, Autobidder. With Autobidder, Tesla provides independent power producers, utilities, and its capital partners with the ability to autonomously monetize battery assets. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “CPF Promotes Biogas Production Across Its Farms And Processing Plants In Thailand” • Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC is working towards renewable energy consumption through biogas production at all pig farms in Thailand for long-term energy security as well as maximum energy efficiency under the Circular Economy concept. [The Pig Site]

Biogas facility in Thailand

¶ “Norway Proposes New Rules For Onshore Wind” • Norway’s government unveiled proposed new rules for assessing onshore wind farm developments, including an 800-meter minimum distance rule for projects from buildings. The proposed changes aim to provide greater predictability for municipalities, local residents and builders. [reNEWS]

¶ “Sri Lanka Gets $100 Million Loan From India For Installing Rooftop Solar Systems” • Sri Lanka announced that it received a $100 million loan from the Government of India for installing solar rooftop systems. These funds will be used to provide solar power to select low-income households in several districts and on government buildings. [Mercom India]

Rooftop solar array

¶ “UK offshore wind supplied 32 TWh in 2019” • UK offshore wind farms delivered 32 TWh of electricity in 2019, according to The Crown Estate 2019 Offshore Wind Operational Report. It says the total was enough to power 30% of UK homes. And it says 1.8 GW of new capacity became fully operational in the year 2019, bringing the total to 9.7 GW. [reNEWS]

US:

¶ “Little NASA Electric Airplane Soon Coming To Life” • NASA’s first piloted experimental plane in two decades is the all-electric X-57. It has twelve “high-lift motors and propellers” along its wings and a larger motor with a five-foot propeller at each wing tip to capture energy that would otherwise be lost to wingtip vortices. [CleanTechnica]

X-57 (Image: NASA Langley | Advanced Concepts Lab, AMA, Inc)

¶ “Zero-Emission Locomotive 999 Restored For Use In CA” • Years ago, Norfolk Southern had a project to develop a zero-emission battery-powered locomotive prototype. Locomotive 999 didn’t work out at that time, but now, with batteries that cost less and better electric motors, the 999 is being put to use by Rail Propulsions Systems in California. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Rig Count Falls For 15th-Straight Week To Another Record Low” • The US rig count fell for the 15th straight week to yet another record low as energy companies continue to shut down oil production. Energy companies are operating 266 drilling rigs nationally, down more than 60% since mid-March and more than 72% from a year ago. [Houston Chronicle]

Pumping oil, flaring gas (Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images)

¶ “Enel Green Power Starts Expansion Of Cimarron Bend Wind Farm” • Enel Green Power started construction on the 199-MW expansion of the Cimarron Bend wind farm in Clark County, Kansas. The $281 million expansion, consisting of 74 turbines, will increase the wind farm’s capacity to 599 MW from the current 400 MW. [North American Windpower]

¶ “JEA Loses Plant Vogtle Nucelar Power Plant Lawsuit” • A decision handed down by a US District Judge presiding in the northern district of Georgia, means Florida utility JEA is stuck with purchasing power at a steep cost for 20 years after Plant Vogtle’s two new reactors are finished, according to WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union. [WJCT]

Have a memorably exquisite day.

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Opinion:

¶ “The Tide Is Turning (And Is It Ever!)” • Something really important was buried in FERC’s latest Energy Infrastructure Update, and though SUN DAY Campaign mentioned it, the rest of the media let it slip. In the US, renewables are expected to see fifty times as much net capacity added in the next three years as nuclear and fossil fuels combined. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines in the desert (Dennis Schroeder | NREL)

¶ “If Covid-19 Was A Quiz, Global Warming Will Be The Final Exam” • An old expression says, “If you fail to plan, you have a plan to fail.” The human community is facing a strong possibility that average temperatures will climb so high soon that life on Earth will cease to exist. And yet, we have developed no plan to stop the rising temperatures. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Siberia’s Prolonged Unusually Warm Weather Is An Alarming Sign: Scientist” • Surface temperatures in Siberia were up to 10°C (18°F) higher than average last month, according to research by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. But it wasn’t just May that was warmer than usual. The region was unusually warm all through winter and spring. [CNN]

Polar bear (Oleg Krashevsky | @Putoranatour | Instagram)

World:

¶ “Tata Power Renewable Gets another LOA; to Develop 100-MW Solar Plant in Maharashtra” • Continuing its winning streak, Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, the renewable arm of Indian utility giant Tata Power, has secured yet another Letter of Award within only a few days for the development of a solar plant in Maharashtra. [Saurenergy]

¶ “Volkswagen Ships Cars To Americas Aboard Low Emissions Ship, Boosts Stake In QuantumScape” • Volkswagen Group ships over its vehicles on more than 7,700 ocean voyages each year. Many cargo ships run on heavy bunker oil, emitting vast plumes pollutants. Volkswagen says it is putting two ultramodern vehicle carriers into service. [CleanTechnica]

Volkswagen car shipping (Volkswagen image)

¶ “Hungary To Launch Renewables Auction In July” • The Hungarian government aims to contract around 390 GWh of generating capacity per year, with 40 GW to be reserved for the Small PVPP category. It will set aside 350 GWh for the Large PVPP group, which includes projects ranging in size from 1 MW to 50 MW. [pv magazine International]

¶ “South Australia Fast-Tracks Energy Plan To Dodge Blackouts And Meet 100% Renewables Goal” • The South Australia Liberal government announced a new energy package to ensure the state can reach its target of net 100% renewables by 2030. One part of the package allows the market operator to switch off rooftop solar, rarely, to manage the grid. [RenewEconomy]

Infigen’s Lake Bonney wind farm

¶ “Global Renewable Energy Growth Equals Coal for First Time Ever, BP Report Says” • Renewable energy sources experienced record growth in 2019, matching that of coal for the first time ever, according to an annual report from oil company BP. The “Statistical Review of World Energy” tracks energy growth, usage and trends. [The Weather Channel]

¶ “RES Seals Green PPA With French Rail Operator” • RES has signed a long-term power purchase agreement to supply almost 40 MW of green electricity to the energy arm of French rail operator SNCF Voyageurs. The deal with SNCF Energie is for between 15 and 20 years. It will enable the construction and operation of solar power plants from 2021. [reNEWS]

SNCF Voyageurs train (SNCF image)

¶ “Uttar Pradesh To Set Up 600 MW Of Solar In New Renewable Energy Park” • The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehri Hydro Development Corporation of India Limited to set up an ultra-mega renewable energy park in the state. The initial target is 600 MW. [Mercom India]

US:

¶ “How A Historic Drought Led To Higher Power Costs And Emissions” • A team led by a researcher from North Carolina State University analyzed the downstream effects of a drought in California that took place in 2012-2016 and was considered one of the worst in the state’s history. They found that drought led to significant increases in power costs. [NC State News]

Shasta Lake (Kelly M Grow | California Dept of Water Resources)

¶ “Top Five US Cities For Bicycling” • PeopleForBikes published a list of the top five cities for bikes in the US, out of 567 cities it considered. This is the third year of the annual rating. The 2020 rankings varied noticeably from the 2019. They are San Luis Obispo, CA; Madison, WI; Santa Barbara, CA; Washington, DC; and Missoula, MT. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Renewables Surge While Coal Power Fizzles” • This year, for the first time, renewable sources will provide more electricity than coal, the Energy Information Administration says. The EIA predicts that electricity from coal generation will drop by 25%, while electricity produced from renewables is expected to grow by 11%. [Santa Barbara Independent]

Wind turbines (Anna Jiménez Calaf | Unsplash)

¶ “NTEC Submits Proposal For Solar Array At Navajo Mine” • The Navajo Transitional Energy Company and Photosol US have submitted a proposal to site 200 MW of a 400-MW solar array on reclaimed Navajo Mine land. If accepted, the project could generate up to $20 million in tax revenues for the Navajo Nation over 40 years. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Vermont Renewables Set New Records In New England And US, Helping Economy And Climate” • The 180,000 small-scale solar systems in New England pack a mighty punch against CO₂ emissions. Last month, home and community-based PV systems set a new record with a capacity of 3,200 MW, three times that of the Seabrook nuclear plant. [vtdigger.org]

Have an enchantingly copacetic day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Farmed Shellfish Is Not Immune To Climate Change” • Some farmed seafood products, especially shellfish, do not tax the environment and can help feed a growing population without taking a heavy environmental toll. According to a study, climate change and ocean acidification could disrupt global shellfish aquaculture in just a few decades. [Hakai Magazine]

Shellfish (D Trozzo | Alamy Stock Photo)

¶ “Australian Research Could Unlock Way To Make Cheap Renewable Hydrogen While Absorbing CO₂” • Australian researchers discovered new materials that could hold the key to the low-cost conversion of carbon dioxide into hydrogen fuels, fertilisers, and other chemicals. The chemicals also avoid the need for fossil fuels. [RenewEconomy]

World:

¶ “Goldman Sachs Sees $16 Trillion Investment In Renewables By 2030” • Goldman Sachs analysts issued a research note for investors saying investments in renewable energy are set to overtake those in oil and gas for the first time next year. They think the clean energy field will be a $16 trillion opportunity for investment between now and 2030. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Zach Shahan | CleanTechnica)

¶ “GE Renewable Energy, COBOD, And LafargeHolcim Are To Co-Develop Record-Tall Wind Turbine Towers With 3D-Printed Concrete Bases” • Three companies, GE Renewable Energy, COBOD, and LafargeHolcim said they will partner to co-develop optimized 3D printed concrete bases for wind turbines with record heights of up to 200 meters. [WebWire]

¶ “Largest North American Pipeline Company, Enbridge, To Shift Toward Renewable Energy” • Calgary-based Enbridge Inc, the largest pipeline company in North America, is taking a new asset mix direction to place a greater focus on natural gas and renewable energy. It will continue to invest in oil pipelines, but will shift gradually to renewables. [Hydrogen Fuel News]

Pipeline Company pipeline in forest

¶ “Oil’s Share Of Global Energy Mix Continues To Retreat As Renewables Surge: BP” • Oil’s share of the global energy mix continued to slip last year, down 0.2% to 33.1%, but it remained the largest contributor to primary energy supply, as the role of natural gas and renewables rose to record highs, according to estimates by BP. [S&P Global]

¶ “Rosatom, Framatome, GE Agree To Partner In Tender For Bulgarian NPP Project” • Russian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom said that it has signed memorandums of understanding with France’s Framatome and US-based General Electric Steam Power to submit a joint bid in the tender for construction of Belene nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. [SeeNews]

Danube at Belene (Preslav, Wikimedia Commons)

UK:

¶ “World’s Biggest Liquid Air Battery Starts Construction In UK” • Construction is beginning on the largest liquid air battery. It will store renewable electricity and reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fuel power plants. The project near Manchester, UK, will use spare green energy to compress air into a liquid and store it to power a turbine as needed. [The Guardian]

¶ “UK’s Record Coal-Free Power Run Comes To An End” • The UK’s record coal-free run, the longest period since the industrial revolution the country has not used electricity produced using the fossil fuel, has come to an end. The total coal-free period lasted 67 days, 22 hours and 55 minutes. The previous record was 18 days, 6 hours and 10 minutes. [The Independent]

Drax power station in North Yorkshire (Getty Images)

¶ “Green Gases Key To South Wales Decarbonization Plan” • The uptake of green gases, like hydrogen and biomethane, for heat production will help the region of South Wales meet its net zero targets, a joint report by Regen, Western Power Distribution, and Wales & West Utilities has found. The report examins various supply scenarios. [reNEWS]

US:

¶ “Lucid Air Reveal Set For September 9, Arizona Factory Set To Open This Year” • The Lucid Air EV was to be revealed to the public at the New York auto show, but due to Covid-19, the reveal will now take place online September 9. The head of production said, “We’re building a brand-new factory to produce the world’s first true luxury EV.” [CleanTechnica]

Lucid cars on display (Image credit: Lucid Motors)

¶ “Good News! Tesla And Panasonic Come To 3-Year Deal For Gigafactory 1” • Tesla and Panasonic made a 3-year agreement in which Panasonic will manufacture and supply lithium-ion battery cells at the Gigafactory in Nevada. The agreement outlines the terms for production capacity and Tesla’s purchase volume. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “8minute Solar Nabs Its First Supply Deal With California Community-Choice Aggregators” • Developer 8minute Solar Energy said it had signed power-purchase agreements with two Northern California community-choice aggregators for a 250-MW solar project located in the state, including 150-MWh of energy storage. [Greentech Media]

Solar farm in California (8minute Solar Energy image)

¶ “Residents Call On Colorado Springs Utilities To Focus On A Renewable Energy, Not Natural Gas” • Over 30 residents called on Colorado Springs Utilities to invest in a future energy mix that would rely more on renewables than natural gas as coal-powered plants close. The Utilities Policy Advisory Committee had pushed natural gas. [Colorado Springs Gazette]

¶ “Xcel Proposes $3 Billion In Renewable Projects To Bolster Economy Dogged By Pandemic” • Xcel Energy would accelerate nearly $3 billion in spending, particularly on large renewable-energy projects, in response to calls from state utility regulators to jolt Minnesota’s economy from its coronavirus-induced lethargy. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

Have an especially enchanting day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Australian Researchers Claim New Record For Direct ‘Solar-To-Hydrogen’ Solar Cells” • Australian researchers claimed a new world efficiency record for solar panels that can directly split water using sunlight. They were able to demonstrate 17.6% solar to hydrogen efficiency. The call reaching this an “unprecedented” milestone. [RenewEconomy]

Solar cell research concept

¶ “Temperatures In India Could Rise By 4.4°C By 2100, Says Government Report” • In a worst case scenario, average surface air temperatures over India could rise by 4.4°C by the century’s end, compared to 1976 through 2005, says the first Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region published by the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. [Down To Earth Magazine]

World:

¶ “How Iceland is undoing carbon emissions for good” • Heavy industry contributes 48% of Iceland’s CO₂ emissions, excluding greenhouse gases from land use and forestry, according to the country’s Environment Agency. Much of that is from chemical processes already powered by renewables. Industry is turning to carbon capture and storage. [BBC]

Hellisheiði geothermal power plant, home to
CarbFix operations since 2014 (Arni Saeberg)

¶ “Tesla Secures More Cobalt From Glencore For Giga Berlin And Giga Shanghai” • Tesla will buy more cobalt from Swiss mining company Glencore to use in both Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai, according to fresh reporting. This provides a boost to Glencore, which faced a bit of a slide over the past two years as the price of cobalt has dropped. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Top Five States For Wind Energy Generation” • Wind power installations in India reached 2.07 GW in FY 2019-20, a 31% increase from 1.58 GW in FY 2018-19. Wind power is 10.1% of the installed power capacity in India as of Q1 2020, with 37.7 GW as of March 2020. Here is a quick look at the top five states for windpower. [Mercom India]

Wind turbines in the mountains

¶ “Ireland Jumps Six Places In EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index” • Efforts to overcome Ireland’s image as a “climate laggard” have helped move the country up the rankings in the latest EY Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index. Ireland is the 12th most desirable place to invest in renewables, up six places in one year. [Siliconrepublic.com]

¶ “Triton Knoll Installs Second Offshore Substation” • A second offshore substation platform has been installed at Innogy’s 860-MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm off England’s east coast. Installation of Offshore Substation Platform East was carried out by Seaway Strashnov. It marks a significant milestone in the project’s progress. [reNEWS]

Offshore substation (Innogy image)

US:

¶ “Tesla Says Model S Is The First EV To Get 400 Miles On A Single Charge” • Tesla said in a news release that its Model S Long Range Plus is the first EV with over 400 miles of EPA-rated range. It has “an official EPA-rated range of 402 miles, … a nearly 20% increase in range when compared to a 2019 Model S 100D with the same battery pack design.” [CNN]

¶ “California Utility PG&E Pleads Guilty To 84 Wildfire Deaths” • California Utility Pacific Gas & Electric has pleaded guilty to the deaths of 84 people in a wildfire, the deadliest US corporate crime ever successfully prosecuted. The utility admitted the 2018 Camp Fire, the state’s deadliest and most destructive, was caused by its faulty equipment. [BBC]

House burning in the Camp Fire (AFP | Getty Images)

¶ “Renewables Groups Launching Macro-Grid Initiative” • A renewables trade association and a public interest advocacy coalition launched an initiative to build support for upgrading the US electricity transmission network, ultimately establishing a macro-grid connecting areas with low-cost renewable resources to centers of high electric demand. [Morning Consult]

¶ “Larimer County Coal-Fired Power Plant Will Close 16 Years Early As Colorado Speeds Move Toward Renewable Energy” • Platte River Power Authority will shut down the coal-burning unit at its Rawhide power plant in 2030, 16 years ahead of schedule, to make good on promises to provide customers with 100% carbon-free electricity. [The Colorado Sun]

Rawhide Energy Station (Ed Kosmicki | The Colorado Sun)

¶ “Pattern Energy Completes Acquisition Of Clines Corners” • Pattern Energy Group LP, a developer and operator of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects, has completed the acquisition of the Clines Corners wind power project in New Mexico. The Clines Corners project will support up to 1,000 MW of windpower. [North American Windpower]

¶ “New Jersey Wind Port Will Help New Jersey Reach A 100% Clean, Renewable Energy Future” • New Jersey announced development of the New Jersey Wind Port, the first port in the country to be built specifically for offshore wind marshalling and manufacturing. The port will be sited in the Lower Alloway Creek area in Salem County. [REVE]

Offshore windpower

¶ “Vectren Will Close Coal Units, Add Renewables” • Vectren Corp, the electric utility that serves much of southern Indiana, has announced a plan to shutter its remaining coal-fired power plants and transition to renewable energy. The utility also said it would add gas-fired generation to back up those renewable resources. [Power Magazine]

¶ “Estonia Doesn’t Want And Can’t Safely Store Radioactive Powder, So 2,000 Drums Of It May Be Coming To Southeastern Utah” • The controversial plan to ship 660 tons of radioactive material more than 5,000 miles from Estonia to San Juan County, Utah, involves a globe-spanning series of connections dating back years. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Have a vastly happy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “We Need A Total Fossil Fuel Lockdown For A Climate Revolution” • Growth in renewable power has been impressive, but too little is happening in heating, cooling, and transport. The journey towards climate disaster continues, unless we make an immediate switch to renewable energy in all sectors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. [UN Environment]

Los Angeles from Griffith Park (Downtowngal, Wikimedia)

¶ “A Win For The First Amendment (And Clean Energy) In Louisiana – HB197 Vetoed” • Louisiana’s HB197 would have violated the First Amendment rights. It was especially harsh on black people who have been protesting the construction of a $94 billion petrochemical plant that would double the state’s toxic emissions. It was vetoed. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “BP Warns Of $17.5 Billion Hit As Pandemic Accelerates Move Away From Oil” • BP is writing down the value of its assets by as much as $17.5 billion as a shift away from fossil fuels is sped up by the coronavirus pandemic. The UK oil company has cut its forecast for Brent crude prices over the next three decades by 27% to $55 per barrel. [CNN]

Pump jack (Eric Gay | AP)

¶ “2 Billion People Use These Products. By 2030 They’ll Be Biodegradable” • Unilever unveiled plans to achieve net zero emissions from its products by 2039. It plans for all 70,000 of its products to be made biodegradable over the next decade. It will also disclose the amount of carbon used to produce them as part of its commitments for the climate crisis. [CNN]

¶ “Shenzhen Gives Residents Incentives To Buy EVs – Tesla Included” • The city of Shenzhen in China has long been an EV leader. Its bus fleet went 100% electric in 2017, and its taxi fleet in 2018. Now, it is pushing EV sales (including Tesla sales) just in time for the end of Q2 2020, offering residents an incentive of 20,000 yuan ($2,800). [CleanTechnica]

BYD electric taxis in Shenzhen (Kyle Field | CleanTechnica)

¶ “Dutch Water Company Will Evaluate Impact Of Floating Solar On Water Quality” • Evides Waterbedrijf, a water company in the Netherlands, estimates it could generate all the electricity for its pumping and distribution operations if just 30% of the reservoirs it manages were covered with floating solar panels. But first, it will conduct a test. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “New Irish Coalition Promises ‘Renewables Revolution’” • The three parties close to forming Ireland’s next government have promised a “revolution” in renewables to include annual capacity auctions and a beefed-up 5-GW offshore wind target. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Green Party aim for “at least” 70% renewable electricity by 2030. [reNEWS]

Green Party leadership (Green Party image)

¶ “Domestic Renewable Energy Installs Rise 37% In ‘Early Signs’ Of Recovery” • According to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, there are “early signs” of recovery for UK renewable energy installations. As restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 are lifted by the government, the renewable energy installation market appears to be waking up. [Solar Power Portal]

¶ “Hydrogen Fuel Economy Is Finally Going Mainstream” • Hydrogen power has been on the market for decades but has never really been able to break the glass ceiling of mass-market appeal, mainly due to a host of technical and cost issues. Now, however, some experts believe that the hydrogen fuel economy has finally reached a tipping point. [OilPrice.com]

Hydrogen filling station

¶ “Global Annual Installed Capacity Of Nuclear Power To Decline To 3 GW Due To Covid-19” • With the pandemic, there has been reduced power consumption. The World Nuclear Association expects a drop in 10% to 20% in electricity generation, as various factors are expected to impact both nuclear power generation and nuclear plant construction. [Power Technology]

US:

¶ “Residents With Open Land, Large Rooftops And Parking Lots Could Contribute To Renewable Energy Development” • The Hawaiian Electric Company is seeking information from owners of land, large rooftops and parking lots on the islands of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi island, Maui, and Molokaʻi. Responses are requested by July 12, 2020. [KHON2]

Rooftop solar system

¶ “Clean Energy Loses Another 27,000 Jobs In May” • As the US Congress begins debating economic stimulus support for the energy industry, a new analysis of unemployment data shows the biggest part of America’s energy economy – clean energy – lost another 27,000 jobs in May. In total, over 620,500 clean energy workers have lost their jobs. [Solar Power World]

¶ “New West Texas Wind Farm Supplies Power To Rhode Island And Beyond” • In Rhode Island, Brown University is getting its renewable energy from a West Texas wind farm. So is the home improvement emporium Lowe’s of North Carolina, tax software maker Intuit of California, and industrial cleaning products company Ecolab of Minnesota. [Houston Chronicle]

West Texas wind farm (Elizabeth Conley | Houston Chronicle)

¶ “New NC Climate Change Report Says The Time To Act Is Now” • The coronavirus pandemic has North Carolina in its grip, our economy is in tatters, and protesters are crying out for racial justice. Now comes more bleak news in the form of a 372-page report titled “North Carolina Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan.” [North Carolina Health News]

¶ “Deadly Heat Is Killing Americans: A Decade Of Inaction On Climate Puts Lives At Risk” • Increasing numbers of people are dying of heat in the US. Heat now causes more deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods in most years, creating a new public health threat. An investigation reveals why the CDC’s prevention efforts have faltered. [The Guardian]

Have a thrillingly uncomplicated day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “New Approach To Energy Management In Microgrids” • In a paper published in Energies, Monash University researchers argue that a transactive energy market could help consumers lower their power costs by reducing peak demand. It could also help consumers providing network services for the main grid to access revenues. [pv magazine International]

PVs at Monash’s Clayton campus (Image: Monash University)

¶ “Renewable Fuels From CO₂ And Water Using 100% Renewable Electricity” • A new European industry consortium, Norsk e-Fuel AS, is industrializing Power-to-Liquid technology in Norway for the European Market. For hard-to-electrify sectors such as the aviation industry, this project promises a radical change towards climate-neutral transportation. [Chemie.de]

World:

¶ “TIGER Power: Anglo-French Tidal Energy Ramps Up In The Channel” • With an investment of €45.4 million ($51 million), the Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project, also called TIGER, is one of the biggest studies of tidal energy in Europe. TIGER is planning to install 8.8 MW of tidal capacity in six locations across the Channel region. [Power Technology]

Tidal turbine and workers (TIGER image)

¶ “Tesla Model 3 SR+ Reported To Have 39% Gross Margin In China” • In China, Tesla is making its Model 3 with cobalt-free lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. With these batteries, the car has a maximum speed of 140 mph and 291 miles of range. Tesla is expected to have a gross margin of 39% on the Model 3 SR+, according to Anxin Securities. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ireland Can ‘Almost Halve’ The Cost Of Renewable Electricity” • Policy actions by the new government could nearly halve the price of renewable electricity in Ireland or increase it by as much as a third, according to a report commissioned by the Irish Wind Energy Association. Renewable energy costs are higher in Ireland than in other countries. [The Irish Times]

Wind farm (Photo: Ben Curtis | PA)

¶ “Cairo Solar Brings Innovative Solutions In Reducing Bills For Electricity And Producing Clean Energy” • Egyptian Streets spoke with Hatem Tawfik, managing director of one of Egypt’s success stories, Cairo Solar, on the challenges, opportunities and its experience in navigating through as a solar and financing company. [Egyptian Streets]

¶ “Enel Wants Quick Coal Exit And Its Hydrogen Will Be 100% Green, Exec Says” • Italian energy giant Enel SpA is speeding plans to decarbonize its global power production, exit coal, and make way for more wind, solar. and a hydrogen venture, by 2021 at the latest. Enel expects to have a green hydrogen production facility within one year. [Renewables Now]

Enel’s Fontes Solar 2 plant in Brazil (Enel image)

¶ “South Africa Revives Idea Of New Civilian Nuclear Power Program” • South Africa is making plans for a 2,500-MW nuclear program to try to solve the country’s power supply problem, the energy ministry said. Currently, 90% of the country’s electricity is generated from coal-fired stations. But its plants are ageing and poorly maintained. [ETEnergyworld.com]

Australia:

¶ “New Wind And Storage Projects Unlocked As Marinus Link Fast-Tracked Under ‘Jobmaker’” • The Australian government will fast track approval for an undersea cable linking Tasmania and Victoria, as part of its “JobMaker” infrastructure plan. This could unlock a series of large new wind and storage projects in Tasmania. [RenewEconomy]

Woolnorth wind farm, Tasmania

¶ “Northern Territory Makes Reforms To Boost Renewables” • The Northern Territory Government has announced priority electricity market reforms as part of its plan for 50% renewables by 2030. The reforms will address system security and reliability, aim to encourage private investors, and maximise the amount of renewable power in the network. [Energy Magazine]

¶ “Manufacturing Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles To Supercharge Port Kembla” • A new company has based itself in New South Wales with the twin intentions of driving hydrogen adoption in heavy vehicles and the passenger markets, while putting the wheels back on Australia’s decimated automobile manufacturing industry. [pv magazine Australia]

Hydrogen fuel-cell powered car (Image: H2X)

US:

¶ “New Mexico Utility To Allow Nuclear Leases To Expire” • A New Mexico utility will exit current leases for nuclear power and will instead develop renewable power by 2040, Kallanish Energy reports. PNM said it will allow leases for 114 MW of electric power from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona to expire. [Kallanish Energy]

¶ “Illinois Utility Plans To Close Largest Coal-Fired Generator” • The Southern Illinois Power Cooperative plans to shutter its largest coal-fired generator this fall, which is expected to save it $125 million over a decade but cost 26 workers their jobs. The tentative decision to close its plant in Marion was based on more competitive energy prices. [CIProud.com]

Coal-burning power plant in Marion, Illinois

¶ “Your Invitation To US Offshore Wind 2020 – A Free Virtual Conference By Reuters Events” • In preparation for US offshore wind project development and supply chain partnering, Reuters Events™ would like to invite all global offshore wind stakeholders to attend the FREE US Offshore Wind 2020 Virtual Conference (June 18-19). [Renewables Now]

¶ “Aon Partners With TCS On Climate Risk Management” • Aon, a re/insurance broker, is collaborating with The Climate Service to help clients understand and manage climate risks. Aon has entered into an exclusive broker relationship with TCS that aims to measure, monitor, and manage financial impacts of climate on business and investments. [Reinsurance News]

Have a fundamentally magnificent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Why We’re Overweighting Renewable Energy” • With the tentative return of demand, West Texas Intermediate oil just posted its best month on record in terms of price percentages. But some analysts say global oil demand may never fully recover. I believe this makes alternative and renewable energy a more attactive long-term investment. [ETF Trends]

Wind turbines

Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Change Has Degraded Productivity Of Shelf Sea Food Webs” • Research shows climate change has caused a shortage of marine nutrients. This contributed to a 50% decline in important North East Atlantic plankton over 60 years. More nutritious large plankton, food for larger sea animals, are being replaced by tiny creatures of poorer food quality. [Science Daily]

¶ “Nature’s ‘Slow Lanes’ Offer Hope For Species Feeling Heat Of Climate Change, Other Pressures” • Pockets of landscape less prone than adjacent areas to disturbances like fire and drought may hold the key for scientists, conservationists, and land managers seeking to preserve vulnerable species in a changing climate. [The News Guard]

Patterns of living and dead trees

World:

¶ “Australia’s Renewable Energy Plan Will Require Lots Of Energy Storage. Siemens Wants To Help” • Enough sunlight hits Australia every day to meet all of humanity’s energy needs for a year. The problem is not creating electricity from renewables. It is moving electricity through an aging grid. Siemens’ Central West hub can help with that. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “EU Defines Green Investments To Boost Sustainable Finance” • To boost the shift towards eco-friendly investment the EU is introducing rules to define what qualifies as green or sustainable activities. This month, Members of the European Parliament will vote on a framework that determines which activities can be considered sustainable. [Modern Diplomacy]

Wind farm

¶ “Enefit Green Renewable Electricity Production Up 15% On Year” • The renewable energy subsidiary of Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia, Enefit Green, produced 96 GWh of renewable electricity in May. This is 15% more than in May 2019. The company’s renewable electricity production grew on year for the seventh consecutive month. [ERR News]

¶ “Delhi University To Set Up School Of Climate Change And Sustainability” • Delhi University will set up a School of Climate Change and Sustainability under the Institute of Eminence Scheme, which will do research related to the environmental challenges. Professor C R Babu, an acclaimed environmental scientist, will head DSCC&S. [ETEnergyworld.com]

Yes! (Representational image)

¶ “Government Targets 1 GW Power From Nuclear Sources” • Ghana has over 4,000 MW of installed generating capacity, including renewable sources. Actual availability barely exceeds 2,400 MW, however, due to changing hydrological conditions, inadequate fuel supplies, and poor energy infrastructure. It is considering nuclear power. [GhanaWeb]

US:

¶ “Tesla Safety Chief Announces Coronavirus Is Not Circulating At Fremont Facility” • Tesla appears to have safety under control. According to Tech Chronicle, there have been no transmissions of the coronavirus in the workplace at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, in the month since production lines starting moving and employees returned to work. [CleanTechnica]

Tesla factory in operation (Image: CleanTechnica)

¶ “Solar Project To Be Built South Of Lawton” • In Comanche County, Oklahoma, the Commissioners of the Land Office board approved a long-term lease for a 4,349-acre solar facility. EDF is planning a 250-MW facility in Comanche County, sufficient to produce enough energy to potentially power 100,000 homes, the company said. [The Lawton Constitution]

¶ “Linking Climate Change Policy To Social And Economic Justice Makes It More Popular” • In the midst of the pandemic and racial unrest, researchers detailed recent studies showing “policy packages that address the climate crisis alongside income inequality, racial injustice, and the economic crisis are more popular among voters.” [Red, Green, and Blue]

Climate Justice (Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash)

¶ “Oregon bids goodbye to coal power” • The Boardman Coal Plant has produced nearly half of Portland’s electricity since 1980. It can burn up to 8,000 tons of coal a day. That will end in just a few months. The plant’s owner, Portland General Electric will close it down for good by the end of 2020. It is the last coal plant left in Oregon. [East Oregonian]

¶ “$242 million solar farm moving ahead in Randolph County” • A renewable energy company has asked government officials in Randolph County, Indiana, to address utility-scale solar farms in the zoning regulations as it moves forward on a $242 million, 200-MW project. Riverstart Solar Park would have 670,000 solar panels on 1,400 acres. [Muncie Star Press]

Have a swimmingly satisfactory day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Britain Saying Goodbye To Coal; Sunlight And Wind Climb From 3% To 37% In One Decade” • In many ways, the 20 century was about coal, but the 21st century is not. The collapse, the demise, of coal is undeniable. Britain recently measured a milestone toward that end. The country has gone two full months without burning coal. [CleanTechnica]

Wind turbines (Zach Shahan | CleanTechnica)

World:

¶ “Ford & Volkswagen Ink Deal For Vans, Pickup Trucks, And Some Sort Of EV” • Ford and Volkswagen announced a year ago they were planning to work more closely together, mostly in the area of commercial vehicles. Now they say they have formalized their cooperative agreement. It envisions production of three EVs in the next two years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ellen, Denmark’s First Electric Ferry, Passes All Tests With Flying Colors” • Ellen, Denmark’s first all-electric ferry, entered revenue service in September last year as a trial. After 10 months in service, the electric ferry has met or exceeded all expectations. In addition, it has proven that electric propulsion costs less than diesel power. [CleanTechnica]

Ferry boat Ellen (Image credit: Ærø EnergyLab)

¶ “55% Growth In Italy’s Electric Vehicle Market Year Over Year” • Italy’s car market was down about 50% down year-on-year for May. This is a great improvement from the April lows, which saw the market crater by 97.5% from the same month last year. Sales of plug-in hybrids showed great growth in May, however, up 145% year ago. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Gas ‘Completely Dominated’ Discussion About Covid-19 Recovery, Commission Adviser Says” • A member of Australia’s Covid-19 recovery taskforce rejected the overwhelming focus on gas as the path out of recession, saying the country risked ending up with stranded fossil fuel infrastructure and should be doing more to back renewable energy. [The Guardian]

Gas-burning power plant (Photo: Reuters Staff | Reuters)

¶ “Scotland Launches £62 Million Energy Recovery Fund” • The Scottish government has launched a £62 million (€69 million, $77.8 Million) fund to help the energy sector recover from the dual economic impacts of Covid-19 and the oil and gas price crash. The fund will support businesses in the oil, gas, and energy sectors over the next five years. [reNEWS]

¶ “EDF Wants India To Play Important Role In Its Strategy Of Becoming Carbon Neutral By 2050” • Électricité de France, the French electric utility, expects India to play an important role in its global strategy of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. It will be scaling up solar and wind power generation capacity in India to 2 GW by 2022. [EnergyInfraPost]

Odisha NTPC Solar Plant Tender (Image via Twitter)

¶ “UK Considers Ending Financial Support For Fossil Fuels Overseas” • The UK government is considering steps to end its ongoing financial support for fossil fuels overseas after using £3.5 billion of public funds to support polluting projects since signing the Paris climate agreement. Senior civil servants are understood to be planning a new climate strategy. [The Guardian]

¶ “Norway Eyes 4.5 GW From New Offshore Wind Zones” • The Norwegian government is to open two new offshore two zones of the country’s south-west coast that have the potential to support up to 4.5 GW of capacity. The first site will be mainly for floating windpower. It covers 1010 square kilometres that are suitable for demonstration and larger projects. [reNEWS]

Energy Minister Tina Bru (Image: Norwegian government)

¶ “Armenia Rejects Russian Funding For Nuclear Plant Upgrade” • The Armenian government announced it has decided to use only 60% of a $270 million Russian loan designed to finance modernization of its 420-MW nuclear power plant at Metsamor. The plant’s sole functioning reactor went online in 1980 and was due to be decommissioned by 2017. [Radio Free Europe]

US:

¶ “Soot Rule Thrusts EPA Into Spotlight On Race” • The EPA published a proposal that some critics call an assault on minority communities coping with the public health legacy of structural racism. It would mandate changes to the way future rules under the Clean Air Act would weigh costs and benefits of climate and air pollution regulations. [Scientific American]

Smog over Los Angeles (Credit: Getty Images)

¶ “Solar+Storage Virtual Power Plant Coming To Shreveport, Louisiana” • Heila Technologies and battery maker SimpliPhi Power teamed on a up on an “intelligent energy storage+solar” demonstration project in Shreveport, Louisiana. Solar and storage at homes and businesses will be managed as if they were one big power plant. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nevada Irrigation District Goes Green Using 95% Renewable Energy” • As the world seeks to tackle the growing threat of climate change and California pursues a goal of 100% clean energy by 2045, the Nevada Irrigation District announced it is using 95% clean, renewable energy to power all its operations, effective this June. [Gold Country Media]

Small hydro powerhouse

¶ “15 More Grid-Scale Battery Storage Installations Are Coming To Texas” • Independent power producer Broad Reach Power has only been in business about a year, but it is already involved in more than $100 million worth of renewable energy projects.It plans to build 15 battery storage projects in Texas this year, each 9.95-MW / 9.95-MWh. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Duke Energy Florida Announces Three New Solar Power Plants To Complete 700-MW Commitment” • Duke Energy Florida has filed the locations of three new solar power plants, each of nearly 75 MW. Duke Energy Florida already had more than 500 MW of solar generation under construction or in operation. [Transmission & Distribution World]

Have an absolutely wonderful day.

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Science and Technology:

¶ “Climate Crisis To Blame For $67 Billion Of Hurricane Harvey Damage – Study” • At least $67 billion of the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017 can be attributed directly to climate breakdown, a study published in the journal Climatic Change says. The finding could lead to a radical reassessment of the costs of damage from extreme weather. [The Guardian]

Flooding after Hurricane Harvey (Mark Ralston | AFP | Getty)

World:

¶ “LG Chem Has Begun Mass Production Of NCM712 Batteries In Poland” • LG Chem began mass production of its NCM712 batteries in Poland. The technology dramatically reduces the use of cobalt in EV batteries, helping both to cut costs and to reduce child labor. The LG batteries also have greater energy density than previous batteries. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Colombia Clears Red Tape For Renewable Energy Tax Breaks” • The Colombian government issued a decree that will reduce permitting delays and facilitate access to tax breaks for renewable power investors, according to energy minister María Fernanda Suárez. The new law is expected to reduce time to access tax breaks by half. [BNamericas English]

Sun and solar panels (facing away from the sun – Hrmph!)

¶ “Planet Needs Additional 3,000 GW Of Renewables By 2030 To Meet Paris Agreement Goals” • About 3,000 GW of renewable energy must be installed by 2030 for the planet to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a report by BloombergNEF, the UN Environment Program, and the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Center. [Energy Live News]

¶ “Wind-Solar Hybrid Is New Renewable Energy Option In India” • Wind-solar hybrid power, harnessing both solar and wind energy, is fast emerging as a viable new renewable energy option in India, a Crisil Research study says. About 15 GW of such power will come up over the next five years, with about 10 GW already in the works. [EnergyInfraPost]

Solar-wind hybrid power (Image via Twitter)

¶ “Ambitious energy reforms set to cut household power bills” • Household power bills are expected to fall after the government of Australia approved energy market reforms. A new wholesale demand response system will pay smelters, heavy industry, and other big power users to reduce their usage during peak demand periods. [The Sydney Morning Herald]

¶ “BCO Says Architects Should Design For Climate Change” • Architects need to consider different climate scenarios when they design buildings, according to a report by the British Council for Offices. The study argues that developers and designers need to ‘de-risk’ buildings to reduce the effects of worse flash flooding, gales, and heatwaves. [Architects Journal]

Flooding in the UK (Shutterstock image)

¶ “DMT Is Suppling A Biogas Upgrading Plant At Waternet Amsterdam” • In Amsterdam’s metropolitan area, households and cars are to be supplied with green gas. The current Sewage Water Treatment Plant of Amsterdam will be transformed and optimized by DMT Environmental Technology, and green gas will soon be supplied. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Rods Can Be Removed From No 2 Reactor At Fukushima Plant, TEPCO Says” • TEPCO said it found no obstacles to its planned removal of radioactive fuel rods from a spent fuel pool at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. It has used a robot to photograph the interior of the pool of the number 2 reactor to determine its condition. [The Japan Times]

Number 2 reactor spent fuel pool (Image: TEPCO via Kyodo)

US:

¶ “Ford Says Electric Pickup And Van Coming ‘In 24 Months'” • Ford COO Jim Farley said in an interview on CNBC’s Squawk On The Street show this week that the company’s first electric pickup truck and its first electric cargo van will be on sale by “mid-2022.” That is later than some people expected, but transitions can take time. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Intuit Hits 100% Renewable Electricity Goal 10 Years Early” • The 419-MW Mesquite Star wind farm was just completed in Fisher County, Texas, and is now providing electricity for Ecolab, Lowe’s, Intuit, and Brown University. Intuit has now reached its 100% renewable electricity goal, 10 years earlier than it had promised. [CleanTechnica]

Mesquite Star wind farm (Courtesy of Clearway Energy Group)

¶ “Corporate Purchases Of Wind Capacity Set Record In 2019; Now Totals 16.857 GW – AWEA” • US commercial and industrial companies bought 4.447 GW of US wind capacity in 2019, setting a new annual record and bringing total corporate wind capacity purchases to 16.857 GW, the American Wind Energy Association said in two reports. [S&P Global]

¶ “Minnesota Power Energizes Great Northern Transmission Line To Move Company Closer To 50% Renewable Energy by 2021” • Minnesota Power has energized its 250-MW Great Northern Transmission Line, bringing online an innovative delivery and storage system for renewable energy that spans two states and one Canadian province. [Yahoo Finance]

Great Northern Transmission line (Photo: Minnesota Power)

¶ “Booming Illinois Solar Industry Falls Off ‘Funding Cliff'” • Illinois went from a solar laggard to one of the hottest markets in the US, thanks to the Future Energy Jobs Act, signed in 2016. But the boom is just as quickly turning to bust due to the one-two punch of a funding crunch and the COVID-19 pandemic slowing both sales and installations. [E&E News]

¶ “New Mandate Throttles Back Amount Of Energy That Utility Customers Can Use” • Utilities in New Jersey will be required to reduce how much gas and electricity their customers use after the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved a wide-ranging program mandating those reductions as part of efforts to cut energy consumption. [NJ Spotlight]

Have an inspiringly fabulous day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Unpacking The Scenario For 90% Renewable Energy In US By 2035” • A study from the UC Berkeley and GridLab shows the US could transition to 90% renewable energy by the year 2035. The cost would be no more than business as usual, but it would create a half million high value jobs. And it would reduce the wholesale cost of electricity by 13%. [CleanTechnica]

Berkeley clean energy report (Image credit: UC Berkeley)

¶ “Congress Is Mulling Renewable Energy Stimulus: They Should Think Bigger” • With discussions in the US Congress underway on the makeup of ‘Phase 4’ of the coronavirus stimulus package, multiple reports are identifying clean and renewable energy as a key sector that Democrats hope to support. Given the climate crisis, they should think bigger. [Forbes]

Science and Technology:

¶ “This Stunning Chart Shows Why Battery Electric Vehicles Win” • Many of us are not good at digesting words but will do fine with an idea if it is presented in an image. This chart from Transport & Environment is a gem. It explains that battery electric vehicles are, by far, our most efficient automobile option, and clearly the future of transport. [CleanTechnica]

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

World:

¶ “Tesla Tops Toyota In Market Cap, Becomes World’s Largest Auto And Clean Energy Company” • Last January, Tesla passed Volkswagen in market capitalization to become the world’s second largest auto company. Now, only five months later, Tesla has passed Toyota. It is the world’s largest auto and clean energy company by market capitalization. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Global Wind And Solar Additions Set New Record In 2019, But More Is Needed” • The global deployment of wind and solar projects reached a new record level in 2019, as falling costs and a push to zero emissions energy sources presented opportunities that could be expanded across the world in a post-Covid-19 economic recovery. [RenewEconomy]

Installing windbreak for solar power

¶ “Israeli Government’s 16-GW Solar Plan A New Policy Priority” • Here is some positive clean energy news. Israel’s government shared plans for a decade-long renewable energy shift. The Energy Ministry released its Roadmap for some serious solar action. It envisions a $23 billion investment for 16 GW of solar power in the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “GE Renewable Energy Hails Its First Onshore Wind Energy Contract With PowerChina Guizhou Engineering Company In China” • GE’s contract with PowerChina includes 12 units of 2.5-132 onshore wind turbines with a two-year service agreement. The Xuanli Qingfeng wind farm will have a capacity of 30 MW, enough to power 40,000 local homes. [REVE]

Wind turbine

¶ “Malaysia: 1-GW Solar Tender Coming” • Malaysia is not messing around. As many countries focus on renewable energy as part of their economic revival after the coronavirus crisis (too bad the US doesn’t have that foresight), Malaysia’s 1-GW play seems big enough for its own story. The government expects 12,000 jobs to be created. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Cheap Renewable Energy An Asset For COVID-19 Recovery Packages: Report” • As COVID-19 hits the fossil fuel industry, a report shows that renewable energy is more cost-effective than ever – providing an opportunity to prioritise clean energy in economic recovery packages and bringing the world closer to meeting the Paris Agreement goals. [Saurenergy]

Wind turbines in a desert

¶ “Poland Plans $1 Billion Investment In New Renewables Division” • Polish state-run oil and gas major Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA plans to spend up to zł4 billion ($1 billion, €894 millio) to create a dedicated renewable energy division. PGNiG hopes the investment will produce a renewable capacity of up to 900 MW. [Renewables Now]

US:

¶ “Duke Sows ‘Pollinator Garden’ At Tippecanoe Solar Farm” • A Duke Energy solar power plant in Indiana is helping renew and increase populations of pollinator species, important for all flowers and food plants. Parts of the 1.6-MW Tippecanoe solar plant site at the Discovery Park District, near Purdue University, have been planted in native wildflowers. [reNEWS]

Pollinator (Duke Energy image)

¶ “These Rarely Used, Dirty Power Plants Could Be Cheaply Replaced By Batteries” • Analysis by researchers at the nonprofit Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Health Energy studied nine states to identify which peaker plants have the greatest potential to be replaced by clean energy alternatives. With new battery technology, the list was long. [Grist]

¶ “Despite Pandemic, Instalations Of US Solar Capacity Will Grow 33% In 2020” • New US solar installations will increase by a third this year, a report showed, as soaring demand by utilities for carbon-free power more than outweighs a dramatic decline in rooftop system orders for homes and businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic. [The Edge Markets MY]

Solar array (Photo: Reuters)

¶ “Rockland Community Power Announces COVID-19 Relief Campaign For Clarkstown” • Rockland Community Power, a program created several towns and villages of Rockland County, New York, in partnership with Joule Community Power, will raise money for local COVID-19 relief efforts through a new offering of community solar power. [Rockland County Times]

¶ “US Agency Plans To Lift Nuclear Power Plant Financing Ban: Spokeswoman” • The International Development Finance Corp, an agency of the US federal government, will end its ban on financing nuclear power plant projects, a spokeswoman said. It is a move that follows the Trump administration’s support for US reactor exports. [S&P Global]

Have an incomprehensibly cool day.

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World:

¶ “Peugeot’s New 330-Kilometer e-Traveler Electric Van” • The electric van space has been dominated by a few models. In the past few years, we’ve seen some new entrants try to break in, but one particular announcement looks especially promising. It is that Peugeot is now offering the Peugeot e-Traveler, with a range of up to 330 km (205 miles). [CleanTechnica]

Peugeot e-Traveler (Peugeot image)

¶ “Masdar Inks 500-MW Wind Deal With Uzbekistan” • United Arab Emirates-based renewables developer Masdar has signed an agreement with the Government of Uzbekistan to build a 500-MW wind project. The agreement covers the design, financing, construction and operation of the wind farm in the Zarafshon district of the Navoi region. [reNEWS]

¶ “R.Power lands debt for 121-MWp of Polish solar projects” • Polish solar projects developer R.Power Group will obtain zł350 million ($89.3 million, €78.7 million) in debt financing for a portfolio of 121 MW of auction-winning projects in Poland. The deal is being touted as the largest funding transaction in the domestic solar sector. [Renewables Now]

Solar panels (Image: foxbat | Shutterstock)

¶ “Giant Offshore Wind Turbines Could Help Vietnam Tackle Immense Climate Change Challenges” • Vietnam could become a future global leader in offshore wind energy generation, after recent analysis showed the country has vast potential along its 3,000 km coastline. Preliminary findings are that offshore wind  could generate up to 160 GW. [CNA]

¶ “Telefónica Selects ACCIONA For Annual Supply Of 100 GWh Of Renewable Energy Over Next 10 Years” • Telefónica selected ACCIONA, Spain’s leading 100% renewable energy retailer, to supply 100 GWh of renewable energy each year. ACCIONA will provide energy to the telecom group’s data processing facilities, offices, and work centers in Spain. [The Fast Mode]

Wind turbines

¶ “Vestas Secures 36-MW Auction Win in Poland” • Vestas has won its fourth order from the latest Polish auction round for a total order intake of more than 350 MW. This 36-MW project consists of ten turbines delivered in 3.6 MW power optimized mode combined with site specific towers and a 20-year service contract. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶ “Renewable Energy Market Being Boosted By Blockchain Technology” • Blockchain technology promises to help boost the greater use of renewable energy sources due to its ability to trace the production of green sustainable energy. This will prove to be vital for peer-to-peer electricity trading and to track examine carbon neutrality. [Irish Tech News]

Wind farm

¶ “Irish Onshore Trio Hit Financial Close” • Financial close has been reached on three onshore wind farms in Ireland with a combined capacity of 21 MW. One project is the 14.1-MW Black Lough in County Sligo. The others are the 4.6-MW Three Tree and 2.3-MW Enros wind projects in County Donegal. All three are being developed by SMR. [reNEWS]

US:

¶ “The 16 Solar+Storage Projects Hawaii Just Ordered” • Details were posted about the 16 solar+storage and stand-alone battery projects Hawaiian Electric is having installed on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. In total, they ordered 460 MW of solar energy and nearly 3 GWh of energy storage. They are all to be complete by the end of 2023. [CleanTechnica]

Kapolei Energy Storage site (Kapolei Energy Storage image)

¶ “Octillion And Lightning Systems Working Together On Class 6 Electric Truck Drivetrains” • Octillion Power Systems, which makes lithium-ion batteries for EVs, and Lightning Systems, an EV drivetrain company, have teamed up to develop electric powertrains for Class 6 electric trucks. These are medium-duty trucks of up to 12½ tons. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “90% Clean Grid by 2035 Is Not Just Feasible, But Cheaper, Study Says” • It will be feasible to power the US on 90% clean electricity by 2035 thanks to stunning renewables cost declines, a study finds. Researchers from UC Berkeley and GridLab found that by 2035, renewables could power 90% of a reliable grid with just 10% from natural gas. [Greentech Media]

Solar technician at work (Photo: Duke Energy)

¶ “EIA: Growth In Renewable Power Expected To Continue” • Renewable sources are expected to provide 21% of US electricity in 2020 and 23% in 2021, up from 17% in 2019, data in the Energy Information Administration’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook shows. Natural gas is expected to provide 41% of US electricity this year, but only 36% 2021. [Biomass Magazine]

¶ “NYSERDA Moves To Launch Program Targeting Brownfields And Other Less Desirable Sites For Renewables” • The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority requested regulatory approval and $50 million for its incentive program to identify and auction off brownfield and less desirable sites for renewable energy projects. [Utility Dive]

Solar power in New York City (Getty Images)

¶ “Monitor Sees Vogtle Nuke Missing In-Service Dates And Exceeding Cost Projections” • A monitor that is independently evaluating Southern Co.’s already delayed Vogtle Nuclear Plant expansion project found that the utility is “highly unlikely” to meet the most recent November 2021 and November 2022 in-service dates for the two new reactors. [S&P Global]

¶ “SCANA Conspirators Helped Byrne Spin Lies About Nuclear Project, Document Alleges” • Documents made public Tuesday allege that former SCANA second-in-command Stephen Byrne and “others known and unknown” to federal officials mounted a years-long cover up to hide huge losses in construction at the VC Summer nuclear plant. [The State]

Have an utterly superb day.

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Opinion:

¶ “On Top Of Everything Else, Trump Loses Offshore Wind War (Shocker!)” • File this under W for What else can Trump lose at? The top US inspector of underground bunkers sailed into the Oval Office promising to bring back coal jobs, only to tank the entire US coal industry. But the worst is yet to come as offshore wind revs under his very nose. [CleanTechnica]

Floating wind turbine (photo courtesy of Aqua Ventus)

¶ “Could The Coronavirus Crisis Finally Finish Off Coal?” • The UK’s electricity grid has burnt no coal for 60 days, and National Grid said it isn’t expecting a coal generator to be turned back on anytime soon. The proximate cause is the pandemic, but an underlying cause is that renewables have almost no marginal costs, and they keep getting cheaper to build. [BBC]

Science and Technology:

¶ “How Power Systems Can Be Operated Using Only Renewable Power Generation” • Several studies have demonstrated how wind and solar power combined with electricity storage or other energy sectors can supply the energy demand for a power system at all times. There are still technological unknowns, but there are potential solutions. [Advanced Science News]

Wind turbines

World:

¶ “BP To Cut 10,000 Jobs Because Of Oil Price Crash” • BP is cutting 10,000 jobs as it reels from this year’s crash in oil prices and it tries to pivot toward renewable energy. BP’s CEO Bernard Looney told employees that the oil giant would reduce its global workforce by nearly 15% this year. Most of the cuts will affect office jobs. [CNN]

¶ “Britain Goes Coal Free As Renewables Edge Out Fossil Fuels” • Britain is about to pass a significant landmark: At midnight on June 10 it will have gone two full months without burning any coal to generate power. A decade ago about 40% of the country’s electricity came from coal. The coronavirus is part of the story, but far from all of it. [BBC]

Stranded assets (Getty Images)

¶ “Melting Permafrost Claims Its First Major Victim, Russia’s Oil & Gas Network” • This past week, there was an oil spill in Siberia because of melting permafrost. Almost all of Russia’s oil and gas fields are under permafrost and much of the pipeline system goes over permafrost. Russia’s planned pipelines to China are especially at risk. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “700 MW Solar Power Auction Kicked Off Today In Portugal” • After a delay in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, June 8, was the deadline for solar developers to submit applications for Portugal’s 700-MW solar auction. After the applications process, the government expects there will be hard bidding around the last week of August. [CleanTechnica]

Solar panels (ECO Economia Online via Twitter)

¶ “Norway Adopts Chinese Maxus Electric Vans For Rescue Service In Tunnels” • Norway has lots of long tunnels on roads though its many mountains. Norway also has a lot of experience with accidents in tunnels. One city is doing trials of emergency vehicles that are able to respond to an emergency without emitting pollutants. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “India’s Adani Green wins 10 G W of solar development, manufacturing projects” • India’s Adani Green Energy Ltd has won a tender for an 8-GW solar project with a manufacturing component, touted as the biggest award of its kind globally. AGE said in a bourse filing that the project will require an overall investment of $6 billion. [Renewables Now]

Solar panels (Adani Solar image)

¶ “Huge 3.6-GW Solar Plus Battery Hydrogen Project Proposed For Queensland” • A newly formed Australian company, Austrom Hydrogen, unveiled plans for what it says could be a 3.6-GW solar hydrogen project in central Queensland, adding to the rapidly growing list of multi-gigawatt scale renewable hydrogen proposals in Australia. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “Offshore Wind Offers 1.4 TW Potential By 2050” • Up to 1,400 GW of offshore wind capacity could be built around the world by the year 2050, according to the Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition. It said 1,400 GW is achievable considering the resource potential, technology innovation, and government appetite to focus on offshore windpower. [reNEWS]

Offshore wind turbines (Ørsted image)

¶ “TEPCO Renewable To Spend $9-18 Billion By 2035 On Green Power” • TEPCO Renewable Power plans to spend about ¥1-2 trillion ($9-18 billion) to develop up to 7 GW of offshore wind and hydroelectric power projects by 2035, its president said. TEPCO itself has been struggling to restart nuclear stations after the Fukushima Disaster. [Reuters Africa]

US:

¶ “$130 Million In US Grants For Zero-Emission And Low-Emission Bus Technologies” • The Transportation Department’s Federal Transit Administration announced some good news last week, support for more efficient bus fleets. More efficient means they should be more economical, create energy savings, and cut pollution. [CleanTechnica]

Electric bus (Courtesy of New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions)

¶ “World’s Largest Renewable Hydrogen Plant (Part 2)” • The city of Lancaster, California has a hydrogen project that IS rocket science. One thing is easy to understand about it: The science makes it possible to produce hydrogen from waste paper, on cost parity with the fossil-fuel-based grey hydrogen, with a negative carbon impact. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Ford PHEV Escape Coming This Summer” • We can expect to have a choice this summer of two new plug-in hybrid midsize SUVs. Toyota last week announced its all new RAV4 Prime. Now Ford has joined the SUV party with its Escape plug-in hybrid. The Ford will probably beat the Toyota to market by a few months. [CleanTechnica]

Have a totally copacetic day.

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Opinion:

¶ “1.35¢/kWh: Record Abu Dhabi Solar Bid Is A Sober Reminder To Upbeat Fossil Fuel Pundits” • The winning bid for a 2-GW solar power plant, the Al Dhafra Solar PV project, set the world’s most cost-competitive tariff for solar PV energy, at 1.35¢/kWh. Why would this news matter? Because it shows a worldwide potential for solar power. [CleanTechnica]

Noor solar array (Image courtesy Abu Dhabi Power Corporation)

¶ “Trump Tramples On National Environmental Policy Act In New Executive Order” • Last week, the man in charge of the US government signed an executive order that directs all federal agencies to waive long-standing environmental laws to speed up federal approval for new infrastructure projects, particularly those that impact federal lands. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Protection Of Seagrasses Key To Building Resilience To Climate Change, Disasters” • Seagrass meadows are among the most important coastal habitats on Earth. They nurture fish populations, weaken storm surges, and provide numerous other services to coastal communities. The importance of seagrasses is highlighted in a UN report. [UN Environment]

The sea (Pixabay image)

¶ “Bifacial Solar Panels That Follow The Sun Now Most Cost Effective” • A report published in the journal Joule confirms that tilting toward the light, for optimal sunlight collection from both sides of a solar panel, can be the most cost-effective solar option. The combination of technologies reduces the cost of electricity by an average of 16%. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶ “Wärtsilä, Engie, And ING Bank Develop Emissions-Free Barge Business With Interchangeable Energy Containers” • Wärtsilä was joined by a number of partners  to form Zero Emission Services BV, to make inland waterway shipping more sustainable by providing interchangeable energy storage containers for barges powered by batteries. [CleanTechnica]

Barge powered by ZES system (Wärtsilä via Twitter)

¶ “Drivelectric Kenya’s Partnership With Food Delivery Firm Greenspoon Shows Why Electric Vans Are Perfect for Kenya” • Greenspoon, Kenya’s first artisan online food store, partnered with Drivelectric, a Kenyan e-mobility provider, to electrify its fleet of delivery vehicles. Early data from the partnership shows large savings from use of EVs. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Equinor ramps up zero emission fuel focus” • Equinor has committed to halving its maritime emissions in Norway by 2030 and halving emissions from global operations by 2050 including through developing green ammonia and hydrogen. Equinor plans to strongly increase production and use of zero-emission fuels by 2050. [reNEWS]

Offshore substation illustration (Equinor image)

¶ “Japan’s Tohoku Eletric Buys Stake In 51.6-M  PV Plant” • The Japanese utility Tohoku Electric Power has acquired a 45% stake in a 51.6-MW solar park in Miyagi prefecture, renewable energy firm SB Energy Corp announced. Its output will meet the annual demand of 15,600 households. The solar park is expected to be operational in 2021. [Renewables Now]

¶ “Fluence Proposes 500-MW BESS Case Scenario To VNI West RIT-T” • Submissions are in on the Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector West. One proposal by Fluence is to replace the traditional infrastructure with mega-scale battery energy storage systems as virtual transmission. Fluence says the system can be deployed very quickly. [pv magazine Australia]

Battery energy storage system (Fluence image)

¶ “Surging Renewables, Covid-19 Pile More Pressure On Coal” • Independent modelling from global energy giant Schneider Electric, Australia’s largest corporate energy adviser, forecasts that wind, solar, and hydro power’s share of the main grid will surge from 21% to 27% this year, and could exceed 30% by the end of 2021. [The Sydney Morning Herald]

US:

¶ “Naval Energies Joins Offshore Wind California Group” • The French company Naval Energies and trade association Offshore Wind California joined to pursue deployment of floating wind technology. California has excellent wind resources, with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimating the state’s technical capacity at 112 GW. [reNEWS]

Offshore windpower (Naval Energies image)

¶ “New York Approves Largest Wind Farm, But Not Everyone Is Happy About It” • What is happening in New York state, with the addition of more renewable energy assets, is a microcosm for what is going on elsewhere in the US and the world. Everybody supports the idea of renewable energy, but not everyone wants it in their community. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Study Says Phoenix Reservoirs Are Resilient To Warming, Scientists Warn Risks Remain” • Scientists have found that climate change is playing a big role in shrinking the flow of the Colorado River, but recent research suggests Arizona’s reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers could fare better as temperatures continue to rise. [AZCentral.com]

Roosevelt Lake on March 31, 2020 (Mark Henle | The Republic)

¶ “Renewable Energy Provides All New US Generating Capacity In April” • According to the SUN DAY Campaign, data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission show wind, solar, and hydropower provided 100% of the 1,328 MW in new US generating capacity added in April 2020 and 56.3% of all capacity added in the first third of 2020. [Renewables Now]

¶ “Pilgrim Question To Appear On Wellfleet, Eastham Ballots” • A ballot question on spent fuel storage at the shuttered Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will appear on the ballots at the Wellfleet and Eastham town elections. The question relates to supporting sending a letter to Gov Charlie Baker asking for high quality dry casks with “heightened security.” [Cape Cod Times]

Have a magnificently propitious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Bruno Latour: ‘This Is A Global Catastrophe That Has Come From Within'” • In the early days of the lockdown, philosopher Bruno Latour wrote, “The first lesson the coronavirus has taught us is also the most astounding: we have actually proven that it is possible, in a few weeks, to put an economic system on hold everywhere in the world…” [The Guardian]

Bruno Latour at his home in Paris (Benoît Tessier | Reuters)

¶ “Net-Metered Renewable Power Costs Less” • The New Hampshire House of Representatives is about to get back to work. One bill is House Bill 1218, which would spur investment in low-cost renewable power by net-metering electric ratepayers. It will save money because the “fuel” is free and “delivery” requires only local distribution wires. [The Keene Sentinel]

World:

¶ “More Jobs In Renewable-Led Covid-19 Economic Recovery, EY Report Finds” • In Australia, a renewables-led economic recovery will create almost three times as many jobs as a fossil-fuel-led recovery, a report by Ernst and Young says. The federal government has been favoring a gas-fired approach to Covid-19 recovery. [ABC News]

Solar power (Supplied: Latrobe Valley Microgrid)

¶ “Huge Subsidy-Free Partnership On 500 MW+ Expansion Of Solar PV In Denmark” • Encavis AG, a producer of electricity from renewable energy sources, announced that it signed a partnership agreement with developer GreenGo Energy Group a/s on a 500 MW+ portfolio of utility scale subsidy-free solar projects in Denmark. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Uneven Progress On Clean Energy Technologies Faces Further Pressure From The Covid-19 Crisis” • The International Energy Agency’s latest report on clean energy transitions finds that a majority of technologies and sectors are failing to keep pace with long-term climate goals. The Covid-19 crisis could impede clean energy progress further. [Modern Diplomacy]

Installing a solar system

¶ “Government Committed To Its Renewable Energy Target Of 30 GW By 2022: Gujarat Energy Minister” • Gujarat’s Energy Minister said the state government is committed to its renewable energy target of 30 GW by 2022. He urged industry to identify land pockets and participate in the bidding process over the coming months. [India Education Diary]

¶ “How West Africa Can Expand Power Supply And Meet Renewable Climate Goals” • Across West Africa, many countries grapple with the challenges of rising electricity demand and climate change. Research shows that use of sustainably managed hydropower plants with new solar and wind power projects is a promising option. [Quartz Africa]

Solar panels near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
(Ludovic Marin | POO | Reuters)

¶ “Renewables In Focus To Revive Energy Sector As Economies Ease Lockdowns” • While the oil industry is still struggling to find a comfortable price, the trends in the reviving energy sector indicate the importance of clean and renewable energy, analysis done by the Centre of Excellence on Emerging Development Perspectives says. [Devdiscourse]

¶ “Dubai’s Renewable Energy Share In Its Power Mix Exceeds Target” • The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced that renewable energy supplies nearly 9% of the country’s total demand for electricity. This exceeds Dubai’s target, which aimed to provide 7% renewable energy out of the total power output by 2020 and 75% by 2050. [Mercom India]

Tracking solar array

¶ “Covid-19 Locks Kenya’s Future In Green Energy” • A rare joint statement by the International Energy Agency, World Health Organization, World Bank, and the International Agency for Renewable Energy said with Covid-19, investments in renewable energy are still profitable, while those in fossil fuels tanked. This has implications for Kenya. [Daily Nation]

¶ “Malaysia Opens RM4 Billion Bid For 1 GW Of Solar Plants” • Malaysia opened competitive bidding for 1 GW of solar plants worth about RM4 billion ($940 million), the largest capacity offered under its Large Scale Solar scheme. According to Public Investment Bank Bhd, the last three cycles of LSS had capacities of 370 MW to 500 MW. [New Straits Times Online]

Renewable energy (New Straits Times image)

US:

¶ “Student Movement Leads To 100% Renewable Energy Policy For Salt Lake City Schools” • A movement started by Salt Lake City high school students led to the local school board adopting a 100% renewable energy policy. It set a goal for the school district of 100% clean electricity by 2030 and no fossil fuels for heating and transportation by 2040. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Windy Enough In Dust Bowl Land” • Windpower developers have tried to build wind farms in southeastern Colorado in the past. They were unable to get the transmission lines they need to tie to the grid. Now they are trying again. Baca County, one of the least populated counties in the state, has a potential for 15 GW ov capacity. [Mountain Town News]

Colorado Green, the state’s first wind farm (Photo: Allen Best)

¶ “US Considers Blacklisting More Oil Tankers Over Venezuela Trade, Official Says” • The US is considering imposing sanctions on dozens of foreign oil tankers for trading with Venezuela, a US official told Reuters. Some sanctions could be announced in the near term while others could be imposed over a longer period if the activities persisted. [ETEnergyworld.com]

¶ “Auburn Physics Professors Receive Nearly $900,000 In Federal Funding To Develop Fusion As Energy Source” • Two Auburn University physics professors were recently awarded nearly $900,000 in DOE research grant funds. Their project is a collaboration between Auburn plasma physicists and the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego. [WTVY, Dothan]

Have a uniquely beautiful day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Call On Science To Protect Wetlands Policy In A Changing Climate” • The Trump administration’s dogged retreat from the use of science to inform sound public policy will reach another milestone on June 22 when the final regulations reducing the number of water bodies and wetlands protected by the Clean Water Act take effect. [The Hill]

Wetlands (Getty Images)

¶ “Investors: It’s Time To Calculate Climate Crisis Risks” • The climate crisis is expected to increase the probability and severity of such climatic hazards as floods, heatwaves, and droughts. This translates into shocks for economies and financial markets. The climate crisis risks are real for investors, but they are not being addressed as they should be. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Oil’s Green Gusher, Vattenfall’s UK Seapower Fury, Fusion Energy Cooking” • The world’s fossil giants are in the eye of the proverbial perfect storm, with Covid-19 just the latest energy transition disruption that could wipe two-thirds of the planet’s oil & gas reserves. Oil majors are talking about everything from solar and wind to nuclear fusion. [Recharge]

Old and new (Orjan F Ellingvag | Corbis via Getty Images)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Last Month Was The Hottest May On Record, As The World Creeps Closer To A Dangerous Threshold” • Last month was the hottest May on record worldwide, a Copernicus Climate Change Service report said. Globally, May was 0.63°C above the average for 1981 to 2010, setting a record for the month. Siberia was 10°C (18°F) above normal. [CNN] (Thanks to Tad Montgomery)

¶ “Covid-19 Pandemic A ‘Bonanza’ For Climate Scientists” • A big part of climate science is trying to predict the future. If the world cuts greenhouse gas emissions by x amount, what impact will that have on the planet? In some ways, the coronavirus pandemic has made it possible to check and refine models by reducing carbon emissions. [CGTN]

Morning mist and wind turbines (Michael Probst | AP)

World:

¶ “Lisbon Adds Incentives For Buying Bicycles And 32 Miles Of Bike Lanes” • The coronavirus pandemic has reduced traffic in cities dramatically, causing many to wonder why we need all those damned cars in the first place. The mayor of Lisbon has announced a €3 million plan to add bike lanes and incentives for people to purchase bicycles. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “In Iraq’s Fields Of Black Gold, Thousands Lose Livelihoods” • Iraq in March asked international oil companies to cut their budgets by 30% because of plummeting oil prices. In the south, energy companies responded by cutting costs. Thousands of workers were let go by subcontractors, including construction, security, and transport firms. [ETEnergyworld.com]

Petrochemicals (Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg via Getty Images)

¶ “Arctic Circle Oil Spill: Russian Prosecutors Order Checks At Permafrost Sites” • Russian prosecutors have ordered checks at “particularly dangerous installations” built on permafrost. After 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil leaked into a river in the Arctic, initial inquiries suggest the tank collapsed because the permafrost that it was built on melted. [BBC]

¶ “ARENA Receives Overwhelming Response To Green Hydrogen Funding Round” • With the initial application stage closing, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced it had received an overwhelming response from 36 prospective developers interested in grants from its Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding. [pv magazine Australia]

Hydrogen from electrolysis (Image: ARENA)

¶ “Premier Of Victoria : Australian-First Renewable Organics Networks” • The Victorian Government is powering a jobs and renewable energy boom thanks to the nation’s first Renewable Organics Networks. The Minister for Water  announced two RON projects to reduce waste going to landfill by using organic waste to produce electricity. [marketscreener.com]

¶ “WoodMac: How The Renewables O&M Market Is Adapting To The Covid-19 Crisis” • Renewables generation has proven largely resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as global demand for electricity has declined, wind and solar PV continue their growth in many regions. In the US, wind and PV output is 10% higher than in 2019. [Greentech Media]

Windfarm technicians (Enel image)

¶ “Four New Renewable Energy Projects In South Africa Receive Support From MIGA” • Four new renewable energy power plant projects for South Africa, with a combined installed capacity of 288 MW, have received support totalling $116 million from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, a subsidiary of the World Bank Group. [Construction Review]

US:

¶ “US Dishes Out Offshore Wind R&D Support” • Research projects by GE and Principle Power are among 12 to share over $10 million of funding from the US National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium. Principle Power aims to demonstrate shallow-water mooring components for floating offshore wind turbines. [reNEWS]

Block Island wind farm (Shaun Dakin | Unsplash)

¶ “9th Circuit Court Eviscerates EPA Over Pesticide Approval” • This week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the plaintiffs in a lawsuit stemming from the EPA’s support for the use of certain pesticides and GMO crops resistent to them. It excoriated the EPA in an opinion that can only be described as a scathing rebuke. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “In Wind And Solar Hot Spots Of The US, Data Shows How Pandemic Tanked Renewables’ Value” • Just as the pandemic has contributed to a plunge in oil prices, it has also cratered the value of wind and solar energy in many parts of the country. Data from REsurety Inc shows a perfect storm of increased supply and low demand in some places. [Morning Consult]

Have an outstandingly resplendent day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Big Oil’s Race To Net Zero” • Shell, BP, and Total have all been pretty active in the renewables department in the past few years. Investors want to see a more sustainable business, governments are pushing for cleaner energy, and environmental activists are applying pressure to take responsibility for carbon footprints. So, how have they been doing? [OilPrice.com]

Wind farm

¶ “Falling Cost Of Renewables Provides Emerging Europe With Non-Nuclear Solution To Coal Exit” • Renewable Power Generation Costs 2019 shows that more than half of the renewable capacity added last year achieved lower power costs than the cheapest new coal plants. Natural gas, a CO₂ emitter, and more costly nuclear power are distractions. [Emerging Europe]

Science and Technology:

¶ “Charting A Course Towards The Ammonia Economy” • Most people have heard of the hydrogen economy, where renewable electricity creates hydrogen fuel from water – but an ammonia economy is emerging as a viable possibility. In the ammonia economy, ships, trucks, buses, power generators and even jets would run on ammonia. [Monash Lens]

Model of ammonia, NH₃ (Ben Mills, Wikimedia Commons)

World:

¶ “Tesla Plans To Add 4,000 New Superchargers In China This Year” • According to a report by Global Times, Tesla announced at a press conference in China it will install 4000 Superchargers in that country before the end of this year. This will address range anxiety. Tesla currently has about 2,500 Supercharges installed in the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Energy Transition Could Wipe $25 Trillion Off The Value Of Fossil-Fuel Reserves” • Two thirds of the value of the world’s oil and gas reserves – totalling $25 trillion – could be wiped out as the energy transition disrupts the entire fossil-fuel system, with profound ramifications for financial markets and geopolitics, a Carbon Tracker report says. [Recharge]

Somewhat tippy oil platform

¶ “Volvo Cars Chengdu Car Plant Powered By 100% Renewable Electricity” • The Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Chengdu, the company’s largest plant in China, is now powered by 100% renewable electricity, reducing CO₂ emissions by over 11,000 tonnes per year. The company’s global manufacturing is now 80% renewably powered. [Automotive World]

¶ “Wind Energy Wins Lion’s Share In Italian Renewable Energy Auction” • Wind power won 406 MW of the 425 MW awarded in an undersubscribed auction – 500 MW were on offer. The prime reason for the undersubscription is Italy’s cumbersome, lengthy permitting process. The unallocated MW from this auction has been added to the next tender. [REVE]

Wind turbines in Italy

¶ “Germany’s Covid Recovery Targets Green Hydrogen And EVs In Boost To Energy Transition” • The Germany government has agreed on a two-year €130 billion pandemic economic recovery program with a number of measures to boost the country’s energy transition, including a focus on green hydrogen and doubling EV subsidies. [RenewEconomy]

¶ “‘Path To 100%’ Community Of Experts Pursue Solutions For Global Renewable Energy Goals” • Wärtsilä is puting together an international community made up of renewable energy experts, researchers, business leaders, and journalists for a “Path to 100%” initiative. It could give guidance on goals being set for 100% clean energy across the world. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Wind turbines (Pixabay image)

¶ “Vestas Doubles Down In China With 100-MW Order” • Vestas took turbine orders for two 50-MW wind projects being built in China. Deliveries of both will commence in the fourth quarter of this year, with commissioning of both wind farms planned for the same quarter. China Three Gorge Renewables placed one order; the other customer was not named. [reNEWS]

US:

¶ “Tesla Working On 12 Person Vans For The Boring Company” • With the Boring Company reportedly approved to build an airport loop for the Ontario International Airport, Tesla is said to be working with The Boring Company to produce 12-person electric vans for such routes. Presumably, they will be operating autonomously. [CleanTechnica]

Boring Company pod (Boring Company image)

¶ “New Jersey Is The First State To Add Climate Change To Its K-12 Education Standards” • The State Board of Education for New Jersey adopted guidelines saying students will start learning about climate change in kindergarten and keep studying the crisis through graduation. It is the first state to include climate change education in its K-12 learning. [CNN]

¶ “New Community Solar Option In Colorado” • Community solar enables solar power for people without roofs, such as renters and apartment dwellers. Arcadia Power, a leader in community solar power, expanded into Colorado and partnered with Xcel Energy, a major utility in the state, and Pivot Energy, a community solar developer. [CleanTechnica]

Solar array in Colorado (Photo courtesy Pivot Energy)

¶ “US Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions Fell By 2.8% In 2019” • US energy-related CO₂ emissions declined by 2.8% in 2019 to 5,130 million metric tons, according to data in the Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Energy Review. CO₂ emissions had increased by 2.9% in 2018, the only annual increase in the past five years. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Bioenergy DevCo And Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Partner On Renewable Gas” • Bioenergy DevCo, a developer of anaerobic digestion facilities worldwide, made an agreement with Chesapeake Utilities Corporation on a project to remove excess organics from the poultry industry and convert it into renewable natural gas. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

Have a profoundly mirthful day.

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World:

¶ “Russia’s Putin Declares State Of Emergency After Arctic Circle Oil Spill” • Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency after 20,000 tonnes of oil leaked into a river within the Arctic Circle. The spill happened when a fuel tank at a power plant near the Siberian city of Norilsk collapsed. The spill went unreported for two days. [BBC]

Leaked diesel oil (AFP)

¶ “Renewable Energy Boost Projected To Create 19,000 More Jobs In Australia By 2025” • Australia’s Clean Energy Council released the country’s largest study of current and projected employment in the renewable energy industry. It found that jobs in the sector could increase from over 25,000 people today to 44,000 people by 2025. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Halifax Aims To Add 210 Electric Buses In Next 8 Years” • The Halifax Regional Municipality in Canada is getting more serious about climate action and stopping air pollution. Halifax has plans to put $780 million into getting the 210 electric buses onto the road and 3 new ferry routes into service by 2028, according to The ChronicleHerald. [CleanTechnica]

Proterra electric bus (Courtesy of Proterra)

¶ “Unstoppable EV Growth In Norway – 66% Market Share” • The world’s leading electric vehicle market, Norway, has seen another month of record market share growth in May – 66% share. That’s up from 47% a year ago. Popular all-electric models included the e-Golf, the Audi e-tron, with newcomer MG ZS EV breaking into the top 5. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Germany Raises Offshore Wind Power Goal To 40 GW In 20 Years” • The German Cabinet has passed a bill that would set a goal of 40 GW of offshore wind power capacity installation by 2040, marking a surge of almost five-fold. It would increase capacity to 15 GW by 2030. The German offshore wind capacity is currently 7.5 GW. [Saurenergy]

Siemens Gamesa offshore wind turbine

¶ “Wirsol And Hive Energy Partner On Largest UK Solar Project” • Hampshire-based renewable energy company Hive Energy has announced its partnership with Wirsol Energy on the Cleve Hill Solar Park, a 350-MW installation that can power about 91,000 average homes in the UK. It is the largest of its kind so far and will require no subsidies. [Energy Digital]

¶ “Brazil Plugs In 446 MW Of Renewables In May” • Bravil added a total of 493.81 MW of new capacity last month, of which wind, solar and biomass accounted for 90%, the power sector regulator Aneel announced. The new wind parks have a combined capacity of 220 MW. Biomass and solar followed with 126 MW and 100 MW, respectively. [Renewables Now]

Wind farm in Brazil (Otávio Nogueira, CC Attribution 2.0 Generic)

¶ “Despite Coronavirus, China Aims For Renewables Grid Parity” • China is sticking to its timetable for ending renewable energy subsidies. Faced with delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, developers are under pressure to restore production, get supply chains going, and get capacity installed and connected to the grid before subsidies end. [Eco-Business]

¶ “EDF Terminates Nuclear Electricity Supply Contracts” • EDF, the French utility, has notified three energy suppliers that their contracts were terminated, under a mechanism that allows rival suppliers to buy electricity produced by EDF’s nuclear power plants. The suppliers had sought to invoke a force majeure clause in their supply contracts. [World Nuclear News]

Chooz nuclear power plant in France (EDF image)

US:

¶ “Trump’s EPA Takes Away State And Tribal Rights To Protect Their Own Water” • The US EPA has issued a rule that limits states’ and Indigenous tribes’ authority to protect the water within their own borders from federally authorized destructive projects such as oil and gas pipelines, hydropower dams, and wetland fills. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “HECO Selects 16 Solar-Energy Storage Projects As Part Of 2020s Renewables Ramp-Up” • Hawaiian Electric, which has committed itself to 100% renewable energy within the next 25 years, announced 16 new solar plus storage or standalone battery projects it has selected for procurement on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. [Power Engineering Magazine]

Island of Oahu

¶ “Federal Judge Rules Citizen Lawsuit Can Proceed Against Justice Family-Run Coal Companies” • A federal judge denied a request by coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov Jim Justice to dismiss a lawsuit brought by environmental organizations over selenium violations at a West Virginia coal mine. [West Virginia Public Broadcasting]

¶ “Encore Renewable Starts Second Solar Project For Vermont Public Power Supply Authority” • The Vermont Public Power Supply Authority and Encore Renewable Energy announced that construction has begun on a solar array on land currently used for corn silage in Morrisville. Encore is evaluating pollinator-friendly wildflower groundcover. [Solar Builder]

Vermont solar site

¶ “As Utility Solar Costs Drop 82%, US Renewable Leaders Target Majority Generation Share By 2030” • Renewable energy sources have become cheaper than any new electricity capacity based on fossil fuels, and the decline in costs is expected to go on. Four industry association leaders are planing to expand market share over the next 10 years. [Utility Dive]

¶ “US Ranks 24th On Environmental Performance” • The US now ranks 24th in the world environmental performance, and the country is far behind other industrialized nations, according to a new analysis by Yale and Columbia universities. Denmark came in first place, followed by Luxembourg and Switzerland. The UK ranked fourth. [The Guardian]

Have an inconceivaby peachy day.

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Opinion:

¶ “Extinction Crisis ‘Poses Existential Threat To Civilisation'” • Human impacts on the places on Earth with the most richness of life have brought hundreds of wild animals to the brink of extinction, a study shows. We are in the sixth mass extinction, with only ourselves to blame. And what we do in the next few decades will shape the future of humanity. [BBC]

Endangered bontebok (Gerardo Ceballos)

¶ “Game Over For Coal: Renewable Energy Best Bet For Covid-19 Recovery” • The economic argument for keeping older coal power plants in operation seems clear enough: they’re already here. That’s it. That’s the case. If that seems like weak tea, it is. Coal is resting on bottom line respectability, when reneable energy is cheaper. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “The Oil & Gas Industry Doesn’t Have A Bright Future” • The oil and gas industry has been in a recession, effectively since the global financial crisis 11 years ago. Each year, production volumes have increased by more than global demand, meaning that the market has been in decline, with lower prices for crude oil and natural gas the natural result. [CleanTechnica]

Fully loaded oil tankers sitting idle (PO3 Aidan Cooney | USCG)

World:

¶ “Northvolt And Hydro Team Up For EV Battery Recycling” • Swedish lithium-ion battery manufacturer Northvolt and Norwegian aluminum producer Hydro have formed a new partnership to recycle EV batteries. It’s all part of a push to make the EU a more circular economy instead of discarding its waste products in landfills and junk yards. [CleanTechnica]

¶ “Nordex Swoops On 90-MW Brazil Order” • Nordex has received a turbine order for a 90-MW wind project in Brazil. The agreement, with new customer Companhia Paranaense de Energia, is for the supply and construction of 26 AW132/3465 turbines plus a 20-year servicing contract. The Jandaira Copel wind farm will be completed in 2022. [reNEWS]

Wind turbines (Nordex image)

¶ “Lanzajet Launches To Make Renewable Jet Fuel A Reality” • Over a fifteen year stretch, LanzaTech has been developing technologies that can turn carbon emissions into ethanol. The company announced the spinout of LanzaJet with partners Mitsui, Suncor, and All Nippon Airways, to bring sustainable aviation fuel to market. [TechCrunch]

¶ “UK Electricity Coal Free For First Month Ever” • The UK’s electricity system had its “greenest” month ever and ran without coal-fired electricity for the full month of May. National Grid, the energy system operator, said the UK’s sunniest spring on record helped reduce the carbon intensity of the grid to its lowest level ever recorded. [The Guardian]

Solar and wind power in Lincolnshire (Paul Glendell | Alamy)

¶ “Adani Chief Talks Solar And Hydrogen Storage Opportunity” • Covid-19 presents an opportunity to pause, rethink, and design a faster transition to a clean energy future, according to Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani. He pointed to a 99% drop in the cost of solar modules over a 40 year period, and said he expects the trend to continue. [pv magazine Australia]

Australia:

¶ “Renewables Power On Despite Recession: CER Report” • In Australia, the Clean Energy Regulator’s Quarterly Carbon Market Report for the first three months of 2020 shows the renewable sector has exhibited remarkable resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Renewables are being installed even as a recession is going on. [EcoGeneration]

PVs and grazing animals

¶ “Insurers, Scientists Team Up In ‘Ground-Breaking’ Australian Initiative” • Leading Australian experts in climate change science and disaster modeling are working with Australian financial institutions to provide a common, scientifically robust standard for industry disclosure and reporting of climate-related financial risks in Australia.” [Insurance Business Australia]

¶ “Australia’s Biggest Wind Farm Starts Sending Power To The Grid” • Goldwind Australia’s 530-MW Stockyard Hill wind farm is sending power to the grid, after its first turbine was connected to the Victorian transmission network. So far, a total of 90 of the wind farm’s 149 Goldwind 3S turbines have been installed at the site in Western Victoria. [RenewEconomy]

Stockyard Hill wind farm (Image: Goldwind Australia)

US:

¶ “State Now Has Plan For Climate Resilience” • In 2012, North Carolina passed a bill restricting the use of sea level rise data for regulatory purposes, which brought it criticism for “outlawing science.” Since that time, it has changed more than a little. This week it introduced what it calls its most comprehensive effort to address climate change. [Coastal Review Online]

¶ “Oil Pipeline Projects Continue To Burden Landowners During Pandemic – Misuse Of Eminent Domain” • Pipeline giant Kinder Morgan is cutting a 400-mile line across the middle of Texas, digging up vast swaths of private land for its planned Permian Highway Pipeline. The project continues, through the pandemic, without health precautions. [CleanTechnica]

Clearing land for the pipeline (Source: Big Ingen Media)

¶ “Louisiana’s SWEPCO Test Virtual Power Plant Using Solar And Storage” • Battery storage provider SimpliPhi Pwer announced a new partnership with Helia Technologies to deploy intelligent energy solar-plus-storage systems at a demonstration project in Shreveport, Louisiana with the support of Southwest Electric Power Co. [Smart Energy]

¶ “Bill Gates And Big Oil Chasing The Nuclear Fusion Dream” • The debate over nuclear fusion vs fission may be on the edge of a breakthrough. Startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems has won over Bill Gates and other backers. The company’ system is to be powered by high-temperature superconducting magnets. It has hopes to run it in the early 2030s. [OilPrice.com]

Have a notably salubrious day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Should California Wind Down Its Fossil Fuel Industry?” • California is a leader in renewable energy, particularly rooftop solar. But it remains the seventh-largest oil-producing state, with 162 million barrels of crude coming up in 2018, translating to tax revenue and jobs. So how can the state reconcile its divergent energy path? [GreenTech Media]

Oil field in Kern County, California (Shutterstock image)

¶ “Energy Efficiency Is Cheaper Than Gas” • Energy efficiency programs save money and ease the effects of climate change. They also generate high-quality jobs. Efficiency accounted for nearly half of the energy industry’s overall net of new jobs in 2019, and it employs twice as many US workers as the entire fossil fuel industry. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶ “SpaceX Crew Dragon Gets To The ISS, But What About Doing It With Renewable Energy?” • SpaceX and NASA  launched two astronauts to the ISS on the SpaceX Crew Dragon. Calculations show that we could turn water into rocket fuel sufficient for a Shuttle launch using a month’s wind power from a small wind farm at a cost of about $285,000. [CleanTechnica]

May 30 SpaceX launch (Daniel Oberhaus, Wikimedia Commons)

World:

¶ “EDF Fires Starting Gun At Fecamp” • Construction is set to start at the 500-MW Fecamp offshore wind farm off northwest France, with financing agreements between the consortium developing the project and its financial partners finalized. Fecamp will have 71 Siemens Gamesa 7.0-154 turbines located and is to be commissioned in 2023. [reNEWS]

¶ “Australia’s Largest Renewables Employment Study Released” • A Clean Energy Council report found that the renewables sector could employ 44,000 Australians by 2025, with a majority in regional areas. Clean Energy At Work is Australia’s largest study of current and projected employment in the renewable energy sector to date. [Energy Magazine]

Wind turbine technician enjoying the view (Shutterstock image)

¶ “AFC Energy And Acciona Partner To Test Fuel Cell Systems At Construction Site” • UK alkaline fuel cells developer AFC Energy Plc said it partnered with Acciona SA to conduct field tests of the H-Power fuel cell platform at one of Acciona’s construction sites in Spain. The partners will evaluate safety and cost effectiveness of both hydrogen and ammonia. [Renewables Now]

¶ “What Offshore Wind Can Bring To The Corporate PPA Party” • As corporate onshore wind and solar deals pick up in Europe, the first handful of offshore wind deals are now being made. The market for corporate onshore renewables deals is now “mature,” Rasmus Errboe, senior vice president at Ørsted Offshore told GTM. [GreenTech Media]

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind Turbine

¶ “Study Shows Decrease In Renewable Energy Costs May Serve As An Accelerator For Clean Energy Expansion” • A study led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stony Brook University projects further declines in the cost of renewable energy in China. The study, published in Nature Communications, could be a model for the US. [Tech Xplore]

¶ “Plunging Cost Of Wind And Solar Marks Turning Point In Energy Transition: IRENA” • Plunging costs of renewables mark a turning point in a global transition to low-carbon energy, as it is increasingly cheaper to build solar or wind farms than to run existing coal plants, a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows. [Reuters]

Wind farm in France (Pascal Rossignol | Reuters)

¶ “MingYang Installs Storage Technology At Huian Quanhui” • MingYang Smart Energy deployed energy storage technology at the 43-MW Huian Quanhui offshore wind farm in China’s Fujian province. The turbine manufacturer’s subsidiary, Quant-Cloud, developed the technology to enhance the typhoon resiliance of MingYang’s offshore wind turbines. [reNEWS]

¶ “Climate Change: Older Trees Loss Continue Around The World” • Older, carbon-rich tropical forests continue to be lost at a frightening rate, according to satellite data. In 2019, an area of primary forest the size of a football pitch was lost every six seconds, according to the University of Maryland study of trees more than 5 meters. [BBC News]

Tree loss in Bolivia due to fires (Getty Images)

US:

¶ “EPA Mounts A New Strike On States’ Rights, This Time To Boost Pipeline Companies” • As chaos grips the nation, the EPA is changing water permitting rules to make it harder for states to block construction of fossil fuel pipelines. The EPA’s new rule prohibits regulators from factoring in a project’s impacts on climate change. [Huffpost]

¶ “Under Construction: Two Solar Farms with 230 Million kWh of Energy Output in Western Kentucky” • Western Kentucky will be home to two new solar farms with a combined capacity of 100 MW. This results from a deal between Community Energy and Big Rivers Electric Corporation, which will buy 100% of the solar farms’ output. [Environment + Energy Leader]

Somewhat unusual olar panels (Pixabay image)

¶ “Cities Need More Expertise And Utility Support In 100% Renewables Push: Report” • A report says greenhouse gas emissions are “rising at an unprecedented rate,” and with the federal government largely taking a back-seat in the fight against climate change, it is up to state and city governments to do much of the heavy lifting. [Smart Cities Dive]

¶ “Operators Shut Down Seabrook Reactor After ‘Unplanned Event'” • A manual trip at the Seabrook Station nuclear plant on Friday, followed an unplanned insertion of control rods. David Lochbaum of watchdog group C-10 Research & Education Foundation, said the event was more interesting economically than for safety. [The Daily News of Newburyport]

Have an exceedingly splendid day.

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Opinion:

¶ “How Cities Might Change If We Worked From Home More” • Many people now work from home. Major tech companies say they are open to their staff working from home permanently. Employees are coming to realize remote working is not only possible but, in some cases, preferable. A shift to a new way of working might already be under way. [BBC]

Tverskaya Street in Moscow on May 9 (Reuters)

¶ “What Will Coronavirus Do To Renewable Energy?” • Before the Covid-19 pandemic, renewable energy was growing, but not fast enough to meet the Paris Agreement’s carbon reduction goals, let alone to deal with climate change. Now, the economic shock of Covid-19 is slowing the growth of renewables, at least temporarily. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]

¶ “Finally There Is Real Movement On Australia’s Climate Policy But Time Isn’t On Our Side” • If speed weren’t a factor, we could probably rely on the market to incentivise the uptake of green technology at its own pace. Battery costs are down and new renewables generate power more cheaply than fossil fuels. But time is running out. [The Guardian]

Solar panels (Carly Earl | The Guardian)

Science and Technology:

¶ “Marine Species Are Moving Towards The Poles Six Times Faster Than Terrestrials Amid Climate Change” • Greenhouse gases have been increasing from human activity exponentially. One of the biggest impacts on species is migration toward cooler temperatures. A study compares detailed differences between marine species and land animals. [Science Times]

World:

¶ “NIO Completes More Than 500,000 Battery Swaps” • NIO is a Chinese electric car maker. One of the things that sets it apart is its focus on battery swapping technology, which has advantages aside from speed. NIO has 136 automated swap stations along many of China’s busiest highways. It has now performed over 500,000 battery swaps. [CleanTechnica]

NIO battery swap station (Image credit: NIO Power)

¶ “West Africa: Hydro To Support Solar And Wind In Smart Renewable Grid” • A study published in the journal Nature Sustainability maps the potential of solar-wind-water strategies for West Africa, a region where power grids are expected to expand. The study explores how hydropower can firm solar and windpower in a climate-friendly manner. [ESI Africa]

¶ “Serbia’s New Energy Solutions To Build 220-MW Wind Farm” • New Energy Solutions, a Serbian management consultancy for renewable energy, is to build a 220-MW wind farm in Kovačica, a document posted on the website of Kovačica municipality shows. The wind farm is to have 31 turbines, each with a 7 MW capacity, and a power substantion. [Renewables Now]

Kovačica wind farm (Source: Windpark Kovačica)

¶ “Power Consumption Dips 14% To 103 BU In May Due To Coronavirus Lockdown” • In India, Power consumption in May declined by 14.16% to 103.02 billion units (kWh) compared to 120.02 BU a year ago, mainly due to low demand during the pandemic lockdown. But the May number is a rise from the 22.65% decline for April. [ETEnergyworld.com]

¶ “Siemens Gamesa Confirms Order For 496-MW Offshore Wind Plant” • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy received a firm order from Ailes Marine, an Iberdrola affiliate, for 62 SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines for the 496-MW Bay of Saint Brieuc offshore wind plant in France. The order includes a 10-year maintenance agreement. [Saurenergy]

Offshore wind farm

¶ “Renewables Gain Investors As Some Flee Oil, Gas, And Coal” • The global fossil fuel sectors are taking a beating, as the supply far outstrips falling demand. Investors seeking safer havens could drive growth in renewable energy even as the solar and wind energy sectors try to weather the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. [Power Magazine]

¶ “Enel Wins 106.3 MW Of Wind, Hydro Projects In Italy” • Enel SpA announced that Enel Green Power was awarded 106.3 MW of capacity in Italian tenders held by the Italian state-owned energy service system operator. The auctions targeted 500 MW of new wind and solar projects and 98.5 MW for renovations of existing plants. [Renewables Now]

Endesa’s Enel Green Power Espana wind parks

¶ “Questions Emerge Over The Need For A Japanese Nuclear Reprocessing Plant” • Japanese nuclear regulators announced that the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant had met new safety regulations, taking a crucial step toward becoming operational. But now, some people are questioning the need for the project to be continued at all. [NHK World]

US:

¶ “Empire State Building Reduces Carbon Emissions By 40% With Energy Saving Upgrades” • When it was built, during the depression, the Empire State Building projected a message of hope by keeping every room lit for all to see. Today, the energy retrofits the building has had reduce its emissions, enough to show a new hope for the future. [CleanTechnica]

Empire State Building (Image credit: esbnyc.com)

¶ “Edgewater Coal Plant Closure Signals A Move Towards Renewable Energy” • By the end of 2022, Alliant Energy, based in Madison, Wisconsin, will shutter the Edgewater coal plant in Sheboygan. The company said in a press release that it hopes to transition to renewable energy, and avoid long-term costs for current customers. [Wisconsin Examiner]

¶ “Cities ‘Could Generate Hundreds Of Times More Solar Power Than They Do Today’” • While applauding the rooftop solar progress of dozens of cities, a report from Environment Texas offers policy options for further progress. Per capita solar leaders are Honolulu, San Diego, Albuquerque, San Jose and Burlington, Vermont. [pv magazine USA]

Have thoroughly pleasing day.

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